VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – More than 8,000 Vigo County students ride the bus to and from school, so bus drivers play a very important role for the school corporation and its students.

VCSC’s chief operating officer Dr. John Newport said there’s a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers and the school corporation is seeing the same issue.

Newport said they currently have 124 full-time bus drivers but need about 10 more to be fully staffed and that it’s not just full-time drivers they need.

They also need substitute drivers which can be a good opportunity for people looking for something more flexible or temporary.

“They can come on as a sub bus driver and then be with us throughout the other times of the year when they’re in town we can schedule them in, as we do have daily absences. Our bus drivers do get sick too and have doctor’s appointments that they need to go to and so we can bring in a sub driver from someone who may be want to be more of a temporary aspect of it, they can come in and fill in those voids,” Newport said.

Newport also noted the base pay for a regular route is $105 dollars per day. There are opportunities to pick up additional mid-day routes, but the job requires a CDL.

Newport mentioned that the VCSC can walk those interested through obtaining their CDL and also hopes to integrate a CDL class focused on bus drivers this fall.