Supt. Dr. Randal Lutz says that recent graduates Ben McKee and Will Hoagland are among the district’s most dedicated bus drivers.
“Two of our most reliable drivers are Baldwin grads,” Lutz said. “They’re there every day.”
McKee has driven buses for Baldwin since he graduated in 2020.
“It’s a very rewarding job, and building relationships with the students is probably the best part,” McKee said. “I liked it so much I started working as a noontime aide at Lutz Elementary School and working part-time at a daycare center.”
The district now hopes to find more hard-working drivers like McKee and Hoagland. Baldwin staff as well as students who are 18 or older soon will have the opportunity to gain their commercial driver’s license fully paid for through the district.
Students interested will have the opportunity to learn the permit information in online courses starting early this quarter. These lessons will teach them everything they need to acquire their permit before graduation and then start behind-the-wheel training right after.
Senior Rosemary Becker plans to go through with the program and is thinking about driving for Baldwin if it works with her schedule.
“They already offered me a position for when I get it,” Becker said.
Lutz described the benefits offered for drivers.
“The driver rate in this year’s contract is between $25 to $31 per hour based on experience. With enough hours, there is the opportunity for health care as well,” Lutz said
While one goal is to gain more bus drivers for Baldwin in light of the nationwide driver shortage, that’s not the limit to the opportunities offered by the program, Lutz said.
“Maybe you don’t want to be a bus driver. Maybe you want a CDL because you’re a student who’s going down to Steel Center and you’re involved in the construction trades or some other type of machinery or auto repair. You could really use a CDL to advance your career down there,” Lutz said. “So, yes, primarily, we want bus drivers, but the CDL can be for so much more than just for buses.”
Lutz said the district would continue to be selective in hiring drivers to ensure quality, including while looking to add drivers through this program.
“If they go through all the testing and get certified, we’re looking for grads who would be responsible and really would take it seriously. And it’s not for everybody,” Lutz said. “If someone would be inclined to funny business, then they’re not the person who we want in the first place.”
In addition to earning the CDL, all potential new drivers will have to prove to the district that they are prepared.
“We’re not going to put someone behind the wheel of a vehicle if they’re not ready, if they’re not comfortable to do so. So we need to make sure that we can gauge their level of preparedness and then meet that with opportunity for them,” Lutz said.
McKee agreed that finding the right people is important for a job like this.
“It’s not something that should be taken lightly. Driving a school bus is a big responsibility, and not every 18-year-old is ready for that. In my case, I had a strong background in it and knew what to expect going in, which helped a lot,” McKee said. “The first time I looked up in that mirror and saw 70 little faces staring right back at me, I realized the full gravity of this job,” he said.
Ultimately the program could provide opportunities for some Baldwin students and help the transportation department alleviate the driver shortage
“I think the school benefits, and if the students are willing and ready to take advantage of it, the students can benefit just as much, if not more,” Becker said.
