Academy District 20 still looking to hire bus drivers, transportation support staff

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- As the school year kicks off, the bus driver shortage continues to be an issue for districts across the U.S., and even here in southern Colorado.

Academy District 20 in Colorado Springs is now offering an incentive program to help with shortages in its own transportation department.

Beginning this school year, the district will raise the pay for new and existing drivers to more than $19 an hour. Other incentives include $2,000 signing and retention incentive.

"After you finish your training you’ll get $1,000 and then another $ 1,000 after you complete the year here, and if you work here there’s some other monetary incentives for showing your loyalty to Academy District 20," said District 20 Public Relations Specialist Krystal Story.

District 20 has about 30 open positions in its transportation department, including drivers, paraprofessionals, and mechanics. Officials say that shortage started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like with many other industries, district officials say people started retiring or changing careers.

Despite the shortage, the district says it hasn't had to cancel any of its traditional routes.

"Where we might run into trouble this year is if life happens, someone calls in sick, someone needs to take a day off of work that's where we might run into some trouble with our bus routes," said Story.

District 20 will be hosting a job fair beginning at 9 a.m. on August 27, at its administration building, which is located at 1110 Chapel Hills Dr. in Colorado Springs.

Click here to learn more about the job fair and to fill out an optional pre-registration form.