Finding a few good people to drive a school bus hasn't been easy on the Boothbay peninsula lately. The drivers busing kids around the Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 school district are professional, with good driving records; but one is retiring at the end of the school year and, as yet, no one has stepped up to fatten the currently lean bench. Dave Benner, Facilities/Transportation Director and Safety Officer for the district, is on a mission to fill it.

“Seven full-time drivers are currently used, and this seems to work well with the area we travel for. Right now, we have only one spare driver. We also need fill-in help with the Southport and Edgecomb schools,” he said.

What does it take to be a good bus driver? Patience with students, a sense of humor, and a grasp of the responsibility one takes on when transporting someone's child. Applicants also need a Class “B” (bus) driver's license with a “P” (passenger) & “S” (school bus) endorsement. Prospective drivers are fingerprinted for a criminal background check, must have no OUI’s in the last 10 years, and pass a physical within six months of taking their driving test, Benner said. The district does in-house driver training that includes a series of videos, as well as “ride-alongs” with other drivers, he said.

The hours can be a challenge, Benner said. Full time drivers commit to working 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.;  additional hours are available for away games, extracurricular activities and other travel, as needed, he added.

The district offers full-time drivers year-round health benefits. “Part-time pay is $14.00, with a two-hour minimum. Full-time pay depends on experience and longevity with our school district. Current top-end pay is $19.42 per hour,” said Benner.

He’s optimistic about finding good people, and hopeful they will come forward soon. “We would love to have somebody now to train and to start observing bus runs.” He asked that anyone interested stop by his office at Boothbay Region Elementary School at 51 Emery Lane in Boothbay Harbor.  He’ll explain the process and has all the paperwork, which he can help them complete. will help them complete.  If they get their school bus license and complete 40 hours of school bus driving for the district, the district will reimburse most of their out-of-pocket expenses, he said. The $15 cost for the criminal background check is not reimbursable, but the district will pay for the physical, the fingerprinting, and the driver's permit, Benner said.