Broken Arrow Schools hiring bus drivers due to district growth, not due to shortage

While many school districts across the region continue to grapple with ongoing bus driver shortages, Broken Arrow Public Schools says its current hiring push isn't due to a lack of drivers, but growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. BAPS is hiring 15 positions for new transportation location
2. Bus Driver positions pay $17-$22/hr plus benefits
3. Offers on-the-job training to obtain CDL
4. Next Job fair is May 6th at 701 S Main St, Broken Arrow, OK 74012
5. Schools that are also hiring: Union, TPS

The district is looking to fill 15 bus driver positions, with plans to open a second transportation facility on the south side of town ahead of the upcoming school year.

“We are in the process of building a second location on the south end of town, and so we are looking at filling those positions to get ready for the fall,” said Tammie Smith, transportation manager for Broken Arrow Public Schools.

Smith, who began as a bus driver in 2001, said she’s spent 24 years with the district and has no plans to leave.

“It’s just an outstanding place to be,” she said. “I’ve been here for 24 years, and I plan to retire here.”

Broken Arrow’s hiring stands in contrast to other districts in the Tulsa area. Union Public Schools recently discontinued some bus routes due to a shortage of drivers, and Tulsa Public Schools has also reported a need for new hires.

Julio Zambrano, a former UPS driver who moved to Oklahoma to be closer to his grandchildren, attended the district’s job fair Wednesday. He said the job is a natural fit for him.

“I love people, and I like to drive. I like to be outdoors,” Zambrano said. “The responsibility of being the bus driver of the kids in the bus is a big, big thing.”

Smith said the district is looking for candidates who not only meet the qualifications but who also bring the right mindset to the role.

“We’re looking for people who can show grace, patience, love and compassion,” she said. “People who take pride in their work and care deeply about the precious cargo they carry.”

Bus driver positions with Broken Arrow Public Schools pay between $17 and $22 an hour and include on-the-job training. For those who missed the job fair, the district will host another event on May 6.