Behind the wheel: PAISD feels a driving need
Published 10:09 am Friday, July 13, 2018
By Lorenzo Salinas
Port Arthur Independent School District has the students. Now it just needs the drivers.
The district currently employs about 30 drivers; yet its Transportation Department would like to hire at least 15 more drivers, according to Transportation Director Esther Chapman.
“We would like to have more than that on our roster, but it doesn’t always turn out that way,” Chapman said.
In a field where the district’s biggest competition comes from the local refineries that regularly hire drivers with commercial drivers licenses, sometimes the district comes up short.
“Basically, we’re short on bus drivers across the state, but we’re definitely in dire need here when our drivers are going to the white buses for various reasons,” Chapman said.
Drivers for the refineries drive white buses that transport plant workers to and from the facilities. On average, driving for the refineries pays more than driving for the school district.
“I know salary is the main reason,” Chapman said. “Refineries pay more than the district offers; even though we offer great benefits, they care to go where the money is.”
Chapman mentioned background checks as another deciding issue for school system applicants. The district runs them for potential candidates while the refineries appear to be a lot more relaxed about them, according to Chapman.
The district also runs Department of Transportation physical examinations for their applicants. Chapman said a lot of people do not pass the checks.
Still, the Transportation Department does its part in trying to attract drivers to the district.
“We offer to train them,” Chapman said. “They don’t need to come with CDLs. We hire them on first as bus aides and we pay them while they’re training.
“Once they get their license, they get promoted to driver and get to see their pay go up.”
Chapman said the district even provides the training site within the city so trainees wouldn’t need to travel far for work.
As part of the training package, employees enter into a contract where they must work for the district for at least two years.
“We offer insurance and we do pay into Social Security — we’re one of the few districts to pay into Social Security,” Chapman said.
Bus drivers could expect to work a weekly load of 30 hours during the school year, although that number could easily increase if drivers pick up extra routes with the schools.
“Our basic work day is six hours; however, the district offers extra work,” Chapman said.
Among extra work, drivers could pick up other routes doing field trips and after-school programs like track, football and volleyball practices.
“Then we have sports like football games and volleyball games. Events like UIL and other extra duties to be made,” Chapman said.
Folks interested in applying are encouraged to do so online; though Chapman and her department would gladly help applicants if they phoned or met them in person.
“Not everyone is good with computers and some people may get discouraged with online applications, but if they give Transportation or Human Resources a call we will gladly walk them through the process.
“If they come to the Transportation Department and need help, we’ll sit them down at a computer and walk them through the application process.”
Persons interested in applying or who want more information could call the Transportation Department at 409-989-6190 or locate them at the school’s website: www.paisd.org.
