PUSD bus drivers receive district

The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board recently approved a $2 raise for its bus drivers. (Peoria Unified School District/Submitted)

In an effort to attract and retain high-quality employees to transport students safely and efficiently to and from school, the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board recently increased the wage of bus drivers from $17 to $19 per hour.

This wage increase will make the district's current drivers better compensated in a competitive market, as well as attract new drivers to a vital organ of the district. This past school year, the Peoria Unified transportation team transported students more than 1.9 million collective miles.

"I think it's vital because it not only is more of a fair wage, but it's also considered a lifeline for some of our employees that are in this particular role," said Pedro Price-Dimond, transportation training coordinator for PUSD. "They not only appreciate it, but they also think it was something that was more long overdue. We are definitely not just a bus driver; we are someone that has a mobile classroom."

The $2 increase will go into effect on Saturday, July 1 and is something that will produce "equivalent pay" for current employees.

"I think that it is so great for (the district) to consider that it's not just about specific individuals, it's more of a body of work," Price-Dimond said. "We really bring a lot to what's termed as support services."

The raise, the district hopes, will bring new drivers to the area. Along with the love for the job, its drivers’ compensation seems to appease that passion in a manner that Price-Dimond says that new bus driver interviewees light up at.

"It's so exciting because when I speak to individuals, and I go over that portion of the salary per hour, they say, ‘Oh, wow, I didn't realize it started out at that there,’" he said. "It's nice to be able to say, ‘Hey, this is what was recently approved by our district board. And this is where we’re starting.’ However, there's still more to come, meaning we’re still in conversations to be able to hopefully accelerate this at some point."

The new wage will not conflict with the district's overtime rules, as drivers are able to work past their allotted 40 hours per week, and can work up to 60 hours per week. This, Price-Dimond said, is "encouraged" by the district, and is something that is sure to draw in even more eyes to drivers across the valley to join the PUSD team.

"I think it's exciting because it will identify how we as a district are able to personalize growth for what's to come," Price-Dimond said. "We have X amount of student population at the moment, we have Y amount of elementary and high schools, but there's that much more to come.

"Meaning, who's to say that we’re not going to receive more funding to be able to open up more elementary schools or high schools, which would lead to more routes, which would lead to more expansion, whether they mean, in this particular site, which is amazing."

The district's ongoing search for more student enrollments creates a scenario where more drivers could be needed. With a staff of nearly 95 drivers, Price-Dimond said the district needs 10 to 15 more.

With that many hands coming on deck, the wage increase provides "competitive" compensation to their existing drivers and makes the new drivers they need more enticed to join PUSD, something that has Price-Dimond excited for what's to come.

"As the drivers, it's more about how are we being successful for our students?" he said. "How are we being successful for our community? And the only way that we can do that is bridging that communication from operations over to the necessary individuals that lead up to that board, so that they can continuously have that open ear to listening."

Never miss an issue. Sign up for free today.