CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
The Corpus Christi Independent School District is hoping to fill at least 30 bus driving jobs.
The Eagle Ford Shale boom is said to be draining the district's fleet of not only drivers, but candidates to fill those positions once they become vacant.
Getting a job driving a school bus means you have passed a number of state tests and the districts tough guidelines, but because of Eagle Ford Shale, many of those certified drivers are leaving the district. That has left officials scrambling to fill over two-dozen open driving positions.
"Thank goodness we have mechanics," said Bill Rosenauer, CCISD Transportation Director. "The technicians that work here are also driving, and six of those are running routes. And then we have our staff, so we use myself or a secretary payroll clerk to answer phones while all the others are out driving busses, making sure the kids do get to school."
A commercial drivers license is a hot commodity these days. Oilfield companies are attracting most of those drivers because the starting pay is usually $22-24 dollars an hour, while the school pays $11.13 an hour. There is insurance, and you can be part of the Texas Teacher Retirement Program.
CCISD is still hoping to attract drivers out there who like kids. They also have to almost have a perfect driving record. Also, they have to have a good criminal history and you will be fingerprinted. You have to pass six written exams at the Department of Public Safety's drivers license office before you can get behind the wheel of a school bus.
You can go to district's Web site to apply.
Kiii News Reporter Michael Gibson went Live with more information.
