Who doesn’t want to help their community and get to know its next generation while working a flexible part-time job?

That’s the benefit of being a bus driver for the Luxemburg-Casco School District.

School bus drivers enjoy the flexibility that comes with the position. Their workdays start and end when school does, leaving the middle of the day open for other activities, including errands, hobbies or other part-time work.

Also, consistent with the school calendar, bus drivers are off during holiday breaks and over the summer months.

“Many of our bus drivers are retired and enjoy building relationships with the students on their bus,” says Luxemburg-Casco School District Registrar Gretchen Bink. “They find that it’s a great part-time job for them because it offers flexible hours and lets them drive as much or as little as they would like. It also pays well.”

Starting pay is $78.52, and up, per day. There also is the ability to earn more, $16.15 per hour, as a driver to athletic events.

No nights, weekends or holidays are required, unless you choose to drive to athletic events.

Bink says that bus driver positions are ideal for stay-at-home parents and semi-retired individuals, along with those seeking flexibility in their work schedule.

Many of the district’s bus drivers have students enrolled in one of the four schools, or are a grandparent of an L-C student, according to Bink. Bink herself is a bus driver, saying, “The reason I do it is because it allows me to be with my kids and to go on their class trips.”

She shares that two of the district’s bus drivers recently celebrated their 50th year as a driver, demonstrating their willingness to continue from year to year.

A typical day for a bus driver would be roughly 1.5 hours in the morning, from 6:15-7:45 a.m., followed by an afternoon shift from 2:45-4 p.m., according to Dan Opicka, who assists with district bus operations.

Requirements of the position include a commercial driver’s license, a good driving record, and the ability to pass background and drug tests, along with a physical examination. You also must be 21 years of age.

Training for the position is paid and conducted on the school district campus.

The greatest need for school bus drivers is to and from athletic events, according to Bink. Additionally, when regular bus drivers choose to drive for athletics, they are pulled off their regular route, thus requiring a substitute driver.

Opicka also indicates that some of the district’s bus drivers are nearing retirement from driving, causing an arising need for drivers.

The district’s bus fleet consists of 36 modern buses, ranging in age from brand new to 20 years old. The buses are “well maintained,” according to Opicka.

Individuals interested in becoming a bus driver for the Luxemburg-Casco School District can contact Gretchen Bink via email (gbink@luxcasco.k12.wi.us) or telephone (920-845-2371, ext. 176).