Schools

Cobb Schools Look to Hire 30 New Bus Drivers by Monday

Cobb Schools are in need of 30 new bus drivers for the new school year, which begins Monday, due to an increase in students choosing to attend out-of-zone schools.

The Cobb County School District needs to hire 30 school bus drivers in time for the first day of school on Monday.

Doug Goodwin, spokesman for the district, said the additional 30 drivers are needed because of 180 additional returning district students taking advantage of the school choice option this year. The deadline for applications from returning students to attend an out-of-zone school, a school other than the child's zoned home school, was 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The school choice option allows parents to send their children to out-of-zone schools if the zoned school has failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress targets in the same content areas for three consecutive years.

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The school choice application deadline for students new to the district is Aug. 21, meaning that even more students could choose to attend out-of-zone schools.

Goodwin said the district has been hiring bus drivers throughout the summer, and the district has already budgeted for the addition of the 30 drivers.

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If the district is unable to hire the 30 new drivers by Monday, Goodwin said the district would use several of its 75 standby drivers who cover open routes and absenteeism during the school year.

 “We are just trying to fulfill our transportation needs and help serve our students,” Goodwin said.

Applicants for the bus driver positions must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED and hold a valid Georgia Commercial Driver's License with S and P endorsements. Interested applicants can find the complete job requirements and apply online at http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/hr/employment.


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