Jerry Fuller has been the Director of the St. Clair County Board of Education Transportation Department for 10 years. He is currently looking for qualified bus drivers.

St. Clair County is lacking bus drivers in the Springville, Odenville, Moody and Margaret area. The requirements are simple. Fuller is looking for people who have a good drivers record, with a clean background and a good understanding of children.

Although it could take several weeks to become a bus driver, Fuller said the job is very rewarding. “It can be a lot of fun, and that’s what we discover. Some of the [new] drivers that come in that’s never been on a bus, most of the time it ends being a very rewarding type of job for them,” said Fuller.

The Board of Education Transportation Department offers full-time hours and benefits like health insurance. They could use substitute and part time drivers as well.

Fuller has about 135 bus drivers and five certified mechanics on his roster, but he’s still searching for substitute and part time drivers.

“Part of the issue with school transportation and our system and around the state is that were not fully funded,” stated Fuller. “It takes part of the general fund to support transportation in each school system. I don’t see, on the financial side, that improving until transportation is fully funded, like it was several years ago.”

A new bus could cost up to $90,000 and since the state only does partial funding, the St. Clair Board of Education has to pay the remainder of the price.  The Ten Year Fleet Renewal Program helps to replace buses every ten years.

“We have bought several new buses this past year, and we really needed them. And we still need them.” Fuller said.

The transportation department keeps about 130 buses but overall there is still a shortage of drivers, buses and funding. Fuller went on to say, “Bus driver shortages are not unique for us. It’s an issue around the country and around the state.”

For more information, contact Jerry Fuller at 205-629-6255.