ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Two years after the first COVID-19 case in North Carolina, Buncombe County Schools is still having a hard time finding bus drivers.

What You Need To Know

  • Buncombe County Schools is looking for bus drivers

  • BCS has started a new recruitment and retention plan

  • The school system is looking to hire more than 20 drivers

School leadership like principals, assistant principals, teachers, coaches and band directors throughout the district are lending a hand and picking up the tasks of driving buses for students.

“It shows how versatile our staff is and how willing the people are to go above and beyond when the key position is not there ... how flexible we are during the school day to overcome and adapt to that particular situation,” said Robby Gouge, a BCS Middle School teacher and bus driver.

Buncombe County Schools is down more than 20 bus drivers across the district.

The school system has started a recruitment and retention plan for current drivers and new drivers who come in and pick up extra routes, according to David Rhoney, transportation director for the district. Drivers can receive an extra $100 to $200 a month for 10 or 20 additional routes.

The district has 205-210 buses running every day, but officials would like to have 230 buses running.

If you would like to be a bus driver for Buncombe County Schools, you can apply here.