Going Through the Motions

In its characteristic, transparently disingenuous style, The State gins up a fake problem about the nature of school bus driver regulation (too tight?) while ignoring the massive level of taxpayer abuse inherent in running the nation's least efficient school transportation system.

As recently as 1987, a 16-year-old with a freshly minted license was allowed to drive a school bus.

Today, drivers must pass a series of written tests, a health checkup, a physical fitness test and a driving test to earn a bus license. Schools also check applicants’ driving and criminal records.

George Lee, director of transportation for Richland 1, said the requirements can cause problems.

“There are so many distracters that can cause a person to lose their certification,” he said.

The district avoids this problem by hiring its 217 drivers as full-time employees, so they can receive benefits. Lee said that because of these benefits the district loses only about five drivers a year because of certification problems.

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