Thursday, February 24, 2000
Mason offers signing bonus for bus drivers
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — With eight buses on order and 600 to 700 new students expected by fall, Mason Schools officials are hoping a $500 signing bonus will lure new drivers.
Transportation director Bill Frauenknecht said there are 61 bus routes now, up four from a year ago. He is making plans to add 15 new routes by August to accommodate the new students anticipated. To do that, he needs another 10 regular drivers, as well as substitute drivers.
“We think we'll get a minimum of 600, 700 new kids, but I'm planning for 800, which will give us some room as new kids enroll during the year (2000-01),” Mr. Frauenknecht said Wednesday. “It will give us a buffer. We're trying to avoid a situation where every seat on every bus is filled when school begins. We'll probably order another six to eight buses more next fall.”
Since the bonus program began last summer, only one driver has qualified. To earn the bonus, drivers have to get their commercial driving license and then agree to work for the district at least 90 days.
After the first 30 days, they receive $100. Thirty days later, they receive $200. The final $200 is given to drivers after working 90 days, Mr. Frauenknecht said.
Employees who recruit new drivers are also given the $500 bonus on the same schedule. One bus driver has already earned a bonus.
“We're trying again what we tried in the fall,” Superintendent Kevin Bright told the Mason Board of Education this week. “We're trying to get people to commit to next year.”
Neighboring Lakota Schools are in a similar situation, said Richard Camp, director of support services. About 18 months ago, Lakota offered a bonus for drivers when it expanded routing and got about 10 drivers.
Boone County Schools in northern Kentucky also offered a bonus to drivers last summer in an effort to attract new drivers.
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