VIRGINIA BEACH — With the new school year just around the corner, Virginia Beach City Public Schools is still in need of dozens of bus drivers.
As of Thursday, the school system needs to hire 35 additional bus drivers by Sept. 4 — the first day of school. That number is down from 50 in early July, said Lauren Nolasco, the director of communications for VBCPS.
There is an extensive list of requirements for school bus drivers in the city.
However, Nolasco said the requirements — which included, but are not limited to, a completed application, three references, a tuberculosis test, four days of classroom training, criminal background checks, and copies of DMV transcripts — are not too strict and are not the reason the school system does not have enough bus drivers at this time. The school system is in need of less bus drivers than they were last year.
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“Since there are a number of requirements, hiring a bus driver is a longer process than other positions, but it also offers other benefits,” Nolasco said.
For example, the school division pays for all its bus drivers to earn their commercial driver’s license — a credential that opens up additional opportunities for drivers down the road.
“This is a typical number bus driver openings for us during this time of year because over the summer there are a number of retirements or resignations due to people moving out of the area,” Nolasco said. “Historically, all routes have been filled by the start of the school year.”
Anyone interested in becoming a school bus driver for the VBCPS can apply online.
