Like many school districts nationwide, Ukiah Unified needs more bus drivers, and the driver shortage creates difficulties for students and families. Unfortunately, the lack of drivers even required route suspensions during the 2021-22 school year. Ukiah Unified serves a large geographic region with many families living in remote areas who rely on bus transportation to get their children to school. Additionally, some families have conflicting work schedules that make getting their kids to and from school challenging when the bus option is unavailable.
To remedy this, Ukiah Unified has stepped up financially to attract bus drivers by offering a hiring bonus of $500. They pay an additional $400 to any driver with a class B commercial driver’s license with the required special endorsements and 20 days of service with the District. The hourly wage for Ukiah Unified bus drivers is $25.14 – $42.52, well above the national average of $18 per hour. The District also offers life, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, paid training, and paid sick leave and holidays.
The events of recent years highlighted the essential role of bus drivers, who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our children during challenging times. Veteran school bus driver and current driver instructor Debbie Kirby expressed how hard it was when they couldn’t drive, and the children missed them. Bus drivers often say that the best part about being a driver is seeing the happy faces of children and ensuring they are safe.
The National Academy of Sciences, The United States Department of Transportation, and other authorities agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school. SAFE Miles (total miles without an accident) are awarded to Ukiah Unified drivers annually. In 2022, they safely transported more than 1,400 students between home and school daily, totaling 78,641 SAFE Miles and 613,608 total SAFE Miles since 2017. Ukiah Unified bus drivers have been busy this year, and the miles will be greater than in 2022. The Ukiah Unified fleet consists of 16 Type I buses, including eight electric ones!
The bus drivers at Ukiah Unified are education heroes, and they deserve to be recognized for their invaluable contribution to the success of our community. National Bus Driver Appreciation Day is on April 25, 2023, and we encourage everyone to post a selfie with a bus driver, give them a gift, card, or letter, treat them to coffee or lunch, and most importantly, say thank you for their hard work and dedication.
If you or anyone you know wants to start a rewarding career helping our community as a school bus driver, please call 707-472-5040 or visit www.uusd.net and click on Employment Opportunities. You can also stop by in person at 511 South Orchard Avenue in Ukiah and fill out an application. Join the Ukiah Unified team and make a difference in our children's lives!