New software, new app, and need for more drivers as Eugene 4J bus drivers prepare for school year | Local
The Eugene school district is looking to hire new drivers ahead of the new school year.
EUGENE, Ore. – As another school year approaches, Eugene School District 4J bus drivers gear up to return to transporting students to and from school each and every day.
This year, they are updating the community on some upgrades as well as some help needed.
According to the district’s director of transportation, Arthur Hart, a new routing software has been installed across the bus drivers’ systems, which comes with a corresponding app for parents of students.
The app is called My Ride K-12 and allows parents to keep track of student’s estimated arrival times and more.
As seen from the Apple App Store, a screenshot of My Ride K-12’s interface. The app can be used by 4J parents to keep track of their kids’ bus routes each day.
“Route times, it’ll even give ETAs as the bus is coming, you’ll be able to get updated times,” Hart said. ”We’ll be able to send out messaging about snow routes, we’ll be able to send messages out about delayed buses. Things of that nature.”
The app is available to download on the App Store but Hart said parents were notified about the app via email. He wanted it known that this is the first year for both drivers and parents using the app, and patience is encouraged as they work any bugs or glitches that may arise.
A user guide for the app is available on Eugene 4J’s website.
There is also a need for extra drivers, and according to Hart and 4J officials, school districts are always hiring for bus drivers.
Bus driver “Jake” watches over fellow driver “Rick” as he completes pre-checks before taking a bus on a ride ahead of another school year at Eugene 4J.
Hart said people typically think people need prior bus driving experience. He said that is a common misconception.
“We’re looking for people with five years of driving experience with a good driving record,“ he said. “People who want to engage with students and the public in positive ways, and we do the rest of the training.”
According to Hart, many people working in the transportation department are bus drivers, such as their mechanics or front office staff. Every one who decides to join the team will eventually become completely certified to drive a bus.
Transportation director for 4J, Arthur Hart, behind the wheel of a bus as the district gears up for another school year. Bus drivers will not drive with an updated routing system.
Rick Brummett has been working with students as a bus driver with Eugene School District 4J for about nine years.
“You get your perks, you get your insurance, stuff like that. That’s definitely a big thing too,” Brummett said. “And it’s part time you get to work as much as you want. Four hours, six hours, eight hours.”
He said that any time a district is in desperate need for more drivers, it can be hard on the rest of the staff.
“Everybody having to drive, mechanics having to drive people like that we need to have enough people there,” he said. “And you don’t want a different bus driver every day. You want [students] to get used to you and be there all the time.”
Hart said training is extensive, usually between six to eight weeks before a bus driver can begin working with students. He said the career path is worth it.
“Those of us who’ve gone into the industry – and I’ve been here for 20 years – find it the best work we’ve ever done in our lives,” Hart said. “it is incredibly rewarding to get to work with students every day.”
Anyone interested is encouraged to apply here.
Aaron Arellano joined KEZI 9 News as a news reporter in September of 2023. If you have a story idea for Aaron, you can email him at [email protected].
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