CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES/BUS DRIVERS A PLAN TO INCREASE BUS DRIVERS

Main Goal One of the main goals of New Hanover County Schools is to safely transport our students in a timely and efficient manner. One of the main obstacles for reaching this goal is a shortage of bus drivers. This shortage creates: ◦ Inconsistency with Bus Schedules ◦ Inconsistency with Drivers being familiar with routes ◦ Inconsistency with Drivers being familiar with students

Program Goals 1.Implement a plan designed to increase bus driver’s pool. 2.Offer part-time child nutrition employees, part-time custodians, and currently employed teacher assistants an opportunity to apply for the additional position of bus driver. 3.Teacher assistants hired starting with the school year, will be required to be licensed to drive a bus or eligible to become licensed as a school bus driver.

Teacher Assistants Applying for the Position of Bus Driver Beginning with the school year currently employed regular classroom teacher assistants may apply for the additional position of bus driver. o To be eligible for employment as a teacher assistant/bus driver, an applicant must: 1.hold a North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements or show evidence of enrollment in a CDL class, 2.possess a valid North Carolina driver's license, and 3.meet all of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s physical and legal requirements. o

Teacher Assistant/Bus Driver o Typically, a teacher assistant/bus driver will work six (6) hours in the regular school setting and drive a bus either in the morning or afternoon for no more than two (2) hours. o All teacher assistant positions will be reclassified from salaried to hourly starting with the school year to facilitate this option.

Part-time Child Nutrition Employees Applying for the Position of Bus Driver o To be considered for employment as a child nutrition employee/bus driver, applicants must meet the bus driver duty requirements. o Typically, a child nutrition employee/bus driver will work three and a half (3.5) hours in Child Nutrition at a school and drive a bus for no more than four and a half (4.5) hours.

Part-time Custodians Applying for the Position of Bus Driver o To be considered for employment as a part time custodian /bus driver, applicants must meet the bus driver duty requirements. o Typically, a part-time custodian /bus driver will work four (4) hours of school custodial duties and drive a bus for no more than four (4) hours.

New Hanover County Schools will provide the following incentives and support: 1.Pay licensure fees necessary for the employee to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License with P and S Endorsements and pay license renewal fees as long as the bus driver is in good standing with the school system, both as a bus driver and in the primary assignment. 2.Pay employee for hours driving a bus on the bus driver pay scale equal to the step the employee currently holds in the primary assignment. 3.Part-time custodians and child nutrition employees working a combined total of thirty (30) hours or more per week will be eligible for a full benefits package. 4.Teacher assistants, who either obtain their CDL or are in the process of obtaining their CDL, will be given priority status if the school system implements a Reduction in Force (RIF). 5.Teacher assistants with bus driver duties will work the regular teacher assistant position for six (6) hours per day and may drive either a morning or afternoon bus run. 6.Buses will be located at the employee’s school. The employee will not need to drive to the bus garage or other location to pick up or drop off the bus.

T eacher assistants, child nutrition employees, and custodians who have been placed on any type of Improvement Plan within the last two school years are ineligible for this program.

Requirements for Teacher Assistants Hired Starting with the SY Teacher assistants hired in a regular, continuing, full-time position, starting with the school year, must either hold a North Carolina CDL with Passenger and School Bus endorsements or show evidence of enrollment in a CDL class within ninety (90) working days of their employment.

Exemptions Teacher assistants are not required to meet the bus driver qualifications if:  Their initial employment date as a teacher assistant was prior to the start of the school year,  They hold a clear North Carolina Teaching License in any area,  They are employed as a Special Education Teacher Assistant, or  They were hired in a temporary or time certain position.

Maintaining Current Assignments Employees who apply for the extra position of bus driver, but are unable to continue their bus driving duties due to a documented medical condition will not lose their primary assignment.