Battle Creek Public Schools are warning parents there is a major problem getting their children to school, starting Wednesday.

District transportation partner Dean Transportation has alerted school authorities of a driver shortage that will impact transportation on the first day of school and beyond.

In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, school spokesperson Nathan Hunt said about 700 students will not benefit from regular bus transportation when school starts on Wednesday. He says they are doing all they can to find a way to make sure every student has a way to get to school.

Battle Creek Public Schools are urgently working to hire drivers for $ 18- $ 21 an hour with a signing bonus of up to $ 750. Temporary solutions include later pickup and drop-off times, or support from community organizations.

School authorities say they are currently focusing on:

• Get the word out to affected families, through phone calls, emails and social media.
• Launched a community-wide effort to recruit new bus drivers. Bus driver positions offer $ 18 to $ 21 an hour, a signing bonus of up to $ 750, a full benefit position, and more.
• Activate our network of community partners and supporters.
• The district is also recruiting for unfilled teacher positions and support staff roles that do not require teacher certification.

Those interested in bus driving positions can apply online. If working as a support staff member is more suitable for you, you can click this link to find a list of a wide variety of positions.

Superintendent Kimberly Carter said, “We hope these competitive salaries and benefits and paid on-the-job training will encourage community members who may be out of work due to COVID-19 to consider becoming bus drivers. school. In this time when drivers are so badly needed to help the children of our community get to school and learn, driving a school bus is one of the greatest services one can render to our community.

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