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Pasco County, FL - The Pasco County School District announced a new financial incentive program to address an ongoing shortage of bus drivers that has caused frequent delays for students across the county.
Officials said 49 of the district’s 297 bus routes currently lack permanent drivers, leading to late arrivals at several schools, particularly in central and eastern Pasco County.
According to Superintendent John Legg, the shortage has affected student learning and classroom performance.
At Lacoochee Elementary School, one driver recently covered three separate routes in a single day to ensure students arrived at school.
To help resolve the issue, the district, in partnership with the United School Employees of Pasco, approved a new attendance-based bonus system beginning December 1.
Under the plan, bus drivers with few absences will receive a $500 quarterly bonus, and those assigned to high-need routes will earn an additional $250.
Bus assistants who meet attendance requirements will receive $250 per quarter, plus $125 for working high-need routes.
School Board Chairperson Colleen Beaudoin said the shortage has disrupted instruction and emphasized that reliable transportation is essential to daily school operations.
District officials said the driver shortage has persisted for years despite recent pay raises approved through a 2022 property tax referendum.
The district recently filled 22 openings after a November job fair and plans another hiring event on December 11 to recruit more qualified drivers.