Belpre High School students board buses Thursday after school dismissal. The Belpre City Schools district is looking to hire substitute bus drivers to help get students back and forth to school and extracurricular activities safely. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

BELPRE — Belpre City Schools is facing a critical shortage in substitute bus drivers, and the district is asking the community to help ensure students can get to and from school and extracurricular activities safely.

“We have the vehicles. It’s having the folks that can meet the requirements of getting a Class B, CDL with a bus and passenger endorsement that’s the challenge,” said Paul Dailey, director of facilities and transportation. “We know there are people out there that probably already possess the qualifications. They just haven’t been asked. Sometimes we just need to ask people, ‘Hey, would you want to help us?’ So, this is my way of trying to ask for that help.”

Dailey said the district has dedicated drivers that go above and beyond but they also need support at times.

“My drivers are unbelievable — the fact that they’re coming to work, even when not feeling the best, because they know they need to make the runs. But we don’t have a Plan B right now,” Dailey said.

He said the district is looking for people who can help with trips for athletics, student field trips, and other events for the band, student council and other student organizations. He said these trips are often in the afternoons, evenings and weekends.

“The primary focus is on having substitute drivers to handle some of these trips and to support daily routes, but right now, I don’t have any subs. If somebody were sick, we’d be in a tough spot,” Dailey said.

He said the requirements for becoming a bus driver include a valid driver’s license, a good safety record, passing a physical and a drug screen, and completing a four-day training program. He said the district will help those interested.

“We train them, we give them compensation for that, and their pay will be competitive compared to other school districts in the area,” Dailey said.

He said the district also offers benefit packages and insurance for eligible employees.

He said someone may not fit the qualifications to become a substitute driver but they may know someone who does.

“The person that reads this or talks about it may not be the person that fills it, but passes the word onto somebody else, because we know word of mouth is the key thing,” Dailey said. “A lot of times people won’t even know we’re doing this. And so this way, if folks would spread the word, that would be great.”

For those interested in helping but not wanting to drive a full-size bus, the district also needs van drivers for preschool and special needs routes.

“That one is a simple online course and about an hour and a half with an on-bus instructor,” Dailey said.

Anyone interested is encouraged to contact the district office at 740-423-9511 and or email Dailey at bc_pdailey@belpre.k12.oh.us.

“I just want people that want to help, that take pride in their school system and want to make a difference in their community,” Dailey said. “Give me a call. Let’s discuss it.”