School board approves bus driver referral system

Madison County needs school bus drivers.

So the county school board approved the implementation of a bus driver referral incentive Tuesday in an attempt to offset their current driver shortage.

Current school system employees who refer a bus driver that completes training and drives for the school system for 12 months will earn a $250 referral incentive bonus and the new driver will earn a one-time bonus of $500.

Potential drivers can apply by visiting the system’s website at www.madison.k12.ga.us and indicating on the application that they were referred. The referral program is open to staff currently employed by the school district, although administrators and human resources personnel are not eligible for the referral program.

Assistant superintendent Bonnie Knight said the bus driver situation has improved over the last month and that they are currently down two bus drivers for regular routes. These routes are being filled by substitute drivers.

Knight also said the new cheerleading/wrestling facility is going up and the completion date is set for the end of December. She said staff hopes to move into the building over the Christmas holidays.

The board also voted Tuesday night to allow the city of Danielsville to annex the high school sports complex into the city limits. By becoming part of the city, the sports complex, comprised of 29.52 acres, will be eligible for lower in-city water rates and city police protection. The high school campus itself is already located inside the city limits.