Bus Driver Pay Raise: School Board Backs Plan, Seeks County Council's Approval

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — The Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Monday approved a plan to compensate school bus drivers and their attendants $5 more per hour. Board members also endorsed bonuses for these workers, and officials are considering paying the staffers for full eight-hour workdays. Leaders hope this will combat the ongoing driver shortage that has slowed school transportation around the county.

The recurring funding request would require an extra $7.4 million in each year's school budget. The county council still needs to approve the proposal. Negotiators would then iron out agreements with the appropriate labor unions.

The deal would take effect this Fiscal Year 2022, which runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The pitch would cover drivers employed by the school system and private contractors.

County Executive Steuart Pittman can immediately authorize some parts of the strategy because they use American Rescue Plan money sent to the Anne Arundel government. The portions ready for Pittman's signature include:

• $150,000 for $2,000 signing bonuses to attract new bus drivers and attendants
• $2 million for $2,000 retention bonuses for current drivers and attendants to be paid in three installments throughout the school year

"County Executive Pittman has been clear that the County stands ready to assist our school system in solving this issue, which has been decades in the making," board of education President Melissa Ellis said in a press release. "I take him at his word and believe he will do just that. I am hoping this funding will be approved as soon as possible so that we can get it to our current and future bus drivers and attendants and, in turn, provide our students and families the transportation services they need."

Pittman previously urged Anne Arundel County Public Schools to find a solution as soon as possible. The county executive cheered Superintendent George Arlotto when he suggested these pay raises last Wednesday.

"Hallelujah. We now have a proposal that gives hope to our drivers and an incentive for others to join their ranks," Pittman commented. "For our hard-working parents who are the backbone of our local businesses and the kids who are trying to catch up after a year of virtual learning, a safe and reliable school transportation system is essential. We must deliver."

Anne Arundel County is not alone in its troubles. The entire nation is facing a shortage of commercial drivers, including those for school buses. The coronavirus pandemic unmasked the problem, causing bus delays and cancellations around the county.

The issue worsened last week when multiple Annapolis Bus Company drivers went on strike. The business is one of several bus contractors that work with AACPS, but this particular labor dispute disrupted transportation from Annapolis to Severn.

AACPS posts a daily list of all the affected routes at aacps.org/buses. Tuesday's update showed that 23 buses canceled at least some service.

"What we have come up with at this point will not solve the problem overnight, but it will hasten the day when all of our bus routes are covered for all of our students," Arlotto stated.

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RELATED:

• Board Of Education To Hold Special Meeting To Consider Bus Driver Incentive Package
• AACPS Suggests Paying Bus Drivers Higher Salary To Fix Shortage
• Pittman Urges AACPS To Address Bus Driver Shortage, Plans Forum
• Bus Drivers Go On Strike, Slow School Transportation: Reports

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.