Richmond County Schools Approves 12% Pay Raise for Bus Drivers Amid Service Complaints

Richmond County School System approved a 12% pay bump for bus drivers. The goal? Keep current staff and attract new hires as families voice frustrations about late arrivals and stretched wait times.

Kenneth Johnson with the school system explained that the wage boost targets two issues at once. "Our school board actually approved about 12% pay increase, to help us secure the bus drivers that we do have. And that also is serving as a recruitment endeavor as well to attract new bus drivers to the school system," said Johnson, per NewsChannel 6.

The district held a walk-in hiring event on Wednesday. It ran from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Officials hoped to fill remaining vacancies but wouldn't share exact numbers.

Johnson said fewer vacancies exist now than at the summer's start, and he urged applicants to arrive early with multiple copies of their resume.

Parents and grandparents have reported ongoing problems. Katrina, a parent, said her son waited for hours at his stop, sometimes in harsh weather.

"I have a son that's in high school, and he has been at the bus stop for hours and hours in the rain, in the cold," Katrina said. "I had to take him to school, and there's still kids that are left out there."

Juanita Johnson, a grandparent, has heard similar complaints. Buses arrive late. Students miss the start of class. "A lot of times, the buses are late," Juanita Johnson said. "A lot of the time, the parents are complaining about the kids getting to school late, and plus being picked up late in the afternoon."

Getting students to school on time and without incident remains the district's top priority.