School bus boss for southwestern Ont. applauds bonuses to keep drivers
The provincial government is paying $1,000 bonuses to drivers who stay on the job
School bus drivers were back on Ontario roads Tuesday with the potential to earn a $1000 bonus if they stick with the job for the entire school year.
Drivers are increasingly difficult to recruit and retain, according to Maureen Cosyn-Heath, the chief administrative officer for the Southwestern Ontario School Transportation Services.
It's the umbrella group that runs 1,100 routes in the region, busing some 50,000 students to and from school everyday.
Retention is a problem across the province prompting the government to extended its pilot program into this school year.
"Eligible school bus drivers could receive up to two separate retention bonuses of up to $1,000 (less applicable taxes) each," reads a new released issued by the province.
In order to qualify, the school bus driver would have to have continuous employment between September and December 2019 and from January to June 2020.
"I think the driver retention program is a great bonus for drivers. It gets the money directly into their hands and is a great way to reward them for the for the job well done," said Cosyn-Heath.
She explains one of the reasons retention has become an issue in recent years is that drivers tend to be older or retirees.
"As our population ages some of those people are electing to finally exit the workforce. And what we're not seeing is an influx of younger people who are looking at it as a great supplementary job to help augment other part-time work or other income."
Rewarding job
Last year at this time, drivers were in contract talks coming close to a labour dispute at the start of the school year.
It was resolved with Cosyn-Heath saying driving a school bus can be extremely rewarding.
"Knowing that you're the first person they see connected to the school system and the last that they would see is the reason I would recommend people take this on."
She admitted, some kids can be difficult but she doesn't see that as being a deterrent to the job.
"Most people that are drawn to becoming a school bus driver understand that interacting with kids is always going to come with some challenges," she said. "Drivers can really rise to the occasion because they view it as an opportunity to contribute to their community."
It can also work well for people who have unusual hours or part-time jobs.
First run of the school year
School buses hit the road Tuesday morning, and while there were some delay and missteps, Cosyn-Heath said that is typical on day one.
"At this point everyone has made it to school this morning safely," she said. "We just need to do it 187 more times before the school year is done."