The most important requirement for Garland ISD bus drivers is that they love children. According to Ernest Del Bosque, an assistant director in the Transportation Department, driving a school bus is not something you do just for a paycheck.
“It’s all about the kids,” he said. “You’ve got to have a love for kids.”
GISD bus driver Jim Griffin added that the students are not the only ones that benefit. He was struggling a few years ago after losing his job and a friend at church suggested that because he loves children so much that he should become a school bus driver.
“I went and applied not knowing anything about it. They hired me and trained me and put me on a special needs route,” Griffin said. “I truly believe that it saved me.”
Many drivers have retired from other jobs and want a part-time job to get them out of the house. Some are moms who want to work but also want to be home with their children on holidays and during the summer. Others are college students working their way through school. It’s a great fit for lots of folks.
Stanley Phillips, who is a USPS retiree, enjoys taking the students on field trips and said that he often enjoys them as much as the children. “I enjoy going to the zoo and the Perot Museum and art museums,” he said. “It’s educational for us, too.”
Phillips added that it’s essential for the kids to know they are important.
“Kids respond to the fact that you care and that you’re interested,” he said.
Ed Miller, another USPS retiree that is now a GISD bus driver, said that it’s a great part-time job.
“I get home at 9:15 a.m. and I don’t have to be back to work until 2 p.m. so I can work on the house or yard or whatever I want,” he said.
He agreed that one of the most fun things about the job is the field trips.
“They are just as much fun for us as the students,” he said. “And we get in free and we’re being paid the whole time.”
Del Bosque especially loves working with a group of great people that is like family.
“Lots of people want to come over from nearby districts because of the atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a great place to work.”
These drivers agreed that the low stress level is another perk. The job is serious while you’re driving, of course, because you are transporting children. But when the job is finished for the day, there’s no stress or worry. You don’t think about it until you go back in the morning.
Bus drivers are hired year-round. A minimum of 20 hours is guaranteed and there are short routes as well as longer ones. The average is 5 – 5 ½ hours. Paychecks are spread out for 26 checks per year. The work year is 32 weeks. Driving for field trips, which includes any activity other than to and from school, is volunteer. There are ride-along programs that allow moms to bring their children to work.
Applicants must be 21 or over and must pass a physical examination. They must also have or be able to pass the tests to acquire a Class B commercial license and the district will help applicants obtain it. Applicants’ driving records must be good. Insulin-dependent diabetics are disqualified. The pay is $15.73 per hour plus benefits including insurance, retirement, vacation, paid time off and more.
Garland ISD’s bus drivers are a dedicated group which was evidenced after the Dec. 26 tornadoes. When school started back after the holiday, drivers went as far as McKinney, Commerce, Forney, Mesquite, and more to pick up GISD students who had been displaced. This provided needed stability for the students. They had been through enough and it was important for them to go back to their own school.
Apply online at www.garlandisd.net.