TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School District is launching a monthslong flurry of job fairs Wednesday to fill a bus driver shortage that is plaguing school districts across the state.

School transportation officials said its number of open bus driver positions has remained steady in recent years, around 250, and thanks in part to explosive growth in the county as well as the strict higher guidelines the district has in place.

Hillsborough Schools requires drivers to have a CDL, be trained in CPR as well as a clean driving record for the past 20 years.

The district will host two bus driver job fairs on Wednesday and applicants are encouraged to bring their CDL as well as their 20-year or lifetime driving history with them. 

For those applicants bringing the required paperwork, job applicants will be accelerated through the district’s hiring process. Starting pay is listed at $16.04 per hour.

Laura Hill, Transportation Services General Manager, said the district has increased driver pay to fill open positions, and the district is continuing to highlight the perks of a bus driver job.

“It’s almost part-time work with full-time pay,” Hill said. “They have a split shift where they drive a few hours in the morning, where they are off in the middle of the day.  

“They can take care of anything they want to do in the middle of the day, or they can work and do field trips, take our kids on field trips and see a lot of different things. There’s a lot of opportunities with that schedule.” 

One of the two job fairs happens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon Campus.  

The other is scheduled for Wednesday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sam Horton Instructional Services Center on 40th Street in Tampa.

For more information on upcoming job fairs, visit Hillsborough County Public Schools Recruitment/Hiring Events.