CRSD Has 8 Bus Drivers; Seeking To Train More For $22.75 An Hour Positions

District Bus System Squeaks By At Start Of Year On A Better Footing Than Either Anchorage Or Mat-Su 

First Student Website 

As the beginning of school approaches, the Copper River Valley's school bus service, First Student,  currently has 8 drivers to drive its eight routes. 

Compared to some of the other communities in Alaska, this is a pretty solid start. In Anchorage, for example, there are so many openings for bus drivers that the city's students will only be allowed to ride the bus for 3 weeks, and then wait 6 more weeks to ride again, as thousands of other students take their turns on the bus. 

In Mat-Su, due to a lack of drivers, there will also be erratic schedules. 

Despite being in better shape than Anchorage and Mat-Su, First Student in Glennallen is currently hiring for the Copper River School District routes. 

They are paying $22.75 an hour, guaranteed, every day, based on a 5-hour work schedule. If a bus driver's route is short -- and the driver only works an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon -- the driver will be paid as if they work 5 hours a day.

First Student is a major international corporation and has high standards. If you'd like to be a bus driver, you must be 21 years old, and have driven an automobile a minimum of 3 years. You have to take drug and alcohol testing and undergo a criminal background check. 

Drivers are trained in Delta Junction for 2 weeks, including a road test, to get their special commercial drivers' license. (See information on getting a job as a bus driver below) 

Although mass bus cancellations are not planned at this time for the Copper River School District, there are always problems in delivering students to school throughout the winter months. Sickness, icy roads, deep snow on the road, jack-knifed trucks and very cold weather all play into the equation. 

Cancellation in 2021 (CRSD Facebook)

 

CRSD PROJECTED BUS SCHEDULE 

CRSD BUS DRIVER OPENINGS