JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) -- It is less than a week out from the first day of school, and Jefferson County Schools is still in need of more bus drivers and special education teachers.
Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin said the school system is always recruiting for bus drivers, and the 2024-25 school year is no exception. After taking the wheel, CBS 42 News quickly learned this is not a job for the faint of heart.
“Multi-tasking, as well as keeping the kids under control on the bus while driving it and making sure they go home safely,” Angel Williams said.
Williams, who is a special education teacher at Clay-Chalkville High School, is adding bus driver to her resume. CBS 42 News caught up with her during a training session Friday afternoon at a bus yard.
Jefferson County Schools is down 15 bus drivers, according to transportation director Kevin Snowden. He said many people take the 20-hour-a-week job, which pays $15,000 a year, for benefits that include health insurance.
“You work a couple of hours in the morning, a couple of hours in the afternoon, so if they have a part-time job where they can work midday, it's perfect,” Snowden said.
“Thing that makes it tough is being a strong disciplinarian and being able to do your job as a bus driver," he continued.
Those interested in applying can call 205-379-4605. From Hueytown to Fultondale, teachers and students will all return to the classroom Thursday. The district still needs to fill 25 special education positions. Gonsoulin said the district is offering an incentive this year.
“The board in June -- they passed a supplement for all classroom special ed teachers of $3,000, and it’s going to be for one year, and we’ll review it annually," Gonsoulin said.
Also in the works is a new school building for the International Baccalaureate program. Right now, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate students are split between two campuses. That will no longer be the case once construction on the district’s new $68 million facility is complete.
“It’s really difficult for a family to have a student 30 minutes away from another student," said Lori Lightsey, the principal of the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School. "Just the logistics are very complicated."
“This building is going to pull us together as a 6 through 12 school, which is amazing,” Lightsey noted.
The district hopes to move the students into to the new school building by next fall.