Monroe County Community School Corp. is awarding its bus drivers a $1,000 bonus.
The board of school trustees approved the incentive program during its monthly meeting Tuesday. All current drivers and new hires with a commercial driver’s license will receive the bonus.
Director of information technology Adam Terwilliger says other MCCSC employees could also be eligible for $1,000.
“Any non-administrative [MCCSC] employee that refers a new driver will earn the stipend equivalency,” he said.
Terwilliger said the announcement had generated nine applicants with CDLs in one week.
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Superintendent Jeff Hauswald said he wanted to thank the drivers for their work.
“I know they are working hard, and they deserve this,” he said.
During public comment, driver Kip Shell said bus drivers do a lot of things that go unnoticed, such as fixing a broken zipper or tying shoes.
“We may not be teachers, but we’ll teach your child,” Shell said. “We may not be taxis, but we’ll get them where they need to be.”
Currently, the minimum pay for bus drivers is $20.25 per hour. The department provides training for applicants without a CDL, and drivers are eligible for benefits.
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