Applications still being accepted for bus driver jobs

The West Bloomfield School District is still accepting applications for bus drivers and attendants through its new contractor, Durham School Services, and training for new drivers began yesterday, Tuesday, July 17.

“We’ve had many new applicants, about 100,” said Lynne Robertson, the district’s supervisor of transportation. “We have about seven drivers in our first training group.”

She added that about 30 drivers who transported students during the previous school year will be returning this year.

“We plan on 43 routes this year, plus a few extra drivers,” Robertson said. “We’ll stop taking applicants when we know we have enough drivers.”

In April, the district’s Board of Education voted unanimously to privatize the district’s transportation services by contracting with Durham School Services for three years, with the contract being reviewed year-by-year after it expires.

Durham is based out of Warrenville, Ill. and, according to the company’s website, it’s the U.S. student transportation division of National Express Corporation, the North American subsidiary of National Express Group, based out of the United Kingdom.

Those interested in a bus driver position should apply directly at the West Bloomfield School District Transportation Office located at 3340 Orchard Lake Road, north of Commerce Road in Orchard Lake, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.