WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — Believe it or not, Patrick Burns was driving a school bus 40 years ago.

"I used to drive a bus in high school, which is a scary thought," Burns said.

What You Need To Know

  • Wake County school bus drivers are continuing to call out sick from work protesting low wages, long hours and staffing shortages

  • Spectrum News 1 has been tracking this issue as these "sick outs" are impacting routes, leaving parents scrambling to find other means of transportation

  • Drivers and other school employees were rallying outside Tuesday night's school board meeting hoping to get a $2,000 bonus and a raise of the minimum base salary to $15 for all school employees

  • The board instead decided on a bonus of $1,250 for all school employees and a raise of the minimum base salary to $13 an hour

It was Burns' way of getting to and from school working for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District back in 1978. Now, after 28 years in law enforcement, Burns is right back where he started.

"I was looking for something to do that would take up some time plus make a little money," Burns said.

Since then, Burns says a lot has changed with drivers in this school district getting higher salaries, hiring bonuses and now able to work 40 hours a week.

All of that is part of the district's effort to recruit more drivers.

"We don't have enough drivers right now to cover all the routes, so we're having to double up on routes," Burns said.

That certainly makes Burns' job more stressful. And unlike other bus drivers, he doesn't have to worry about income.

"It's obviously an issue if it's someone's full-time career," he said.

Burns has a pension and in his free time is a law enforcement consultant. That being said, he loves being a bus driver and serving his community.

"You can make some lasting relationships like you meet kids when they're in elementary school. Then you get to see them in middle school and high school," Burns said.

As for how to recruit more drivers, Burns doesn't have a hard and fast answer.

"I would have thought the schedule, the money, but they've done, increased the pay," he said.

But he knows it's essential to tackle this problem soon.

"It's not just recruitment, it's retention. We also want to show the appreciation of the drivers, so they'll stay here and continue their employment," Burns said.

In Wake County, bus driver pay comes from state and local funds. That's why some board members and bus drivers are hoping the state decides to give school employees more money in the new state budget.

At this time, the legislature has not passed a state budget, which was supposed to be done on June 30.

The state does have surplus money. However, it's unclear whether that budget will include some kind of raise for teacher and school staff.