ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The first week of classes may be done, but the work continues at Orange County Public Schools.
On Monday, Aug. 19, OCPS will host a job fair in an effort to recruit about 100 school bus drivers.
“The driver shortage is not unique to Orange County. It’s all across the country. We are all struggling to find bus drivers, qualified bus drivers,” said Bill Wen, senior director of OCPS Transportation Services. “It is and I think it’s one of the incentives that sets us apart. Our starting rates are pretty much competitive with everyone else, and we need that one piece that pushes it over the edge to televise people to come in.”
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According to the district, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to give up to $8,000 in bonuses for the 2024-25 school year and for the 2025-26 school year.
District officials explained that’s on top of other additional bonuses available for current and new bus drivers.
Additional benefits include:
- Paid training to get CDL license
- $0 cost personal health insurance
- Retirement packages through the Florida Retirement System
- Benefits package valued at $21,513
- Uniform program for bus operators and mechanics
- No weekends or late-night shifts
- Paid holidays and 10 sick days
- Additional field trips, if desired
- Newer school buses
- Seven work locations
Mirlande Jean Baptiste said she was an OCPS bus driver for about four years but had to stop due to health problems but now that she is doing better, she came back in hopes of getting her old job back.
“I like Orange County let me try to put the application and then I made the application that’s why I came back,” Baptiste said.
Monday’s job fair is taking place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hanging Moss Compound, located at 6721 Hanging Moss Road, Orlando, FL 32807.
Upcoming Career Fairs with OCPS Transportation Services:
- Sept. 9 & 23
- Oct. 7, 14, 28
- Nov. 11 & 18
- Dec. 2 & 16
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