MENASHA, Wis. — Staff and drivers at Lamers Bus Lines’ Menasha location spent Wednesday getting ready for more schools to get back into session.
“We making sure all of our routes are up to date, everything is squared away and busses are ready to roll for tomorrow morning,” said Alex Eisch, a Lamers Bus Lines manager. “We’re making sure our drivers are up to date on any route changes that come in.”
Bus companies have been seeking additional drivers for months. Eisch said his company has seen some improvement, but is still looking for more people to fill open positions.
“There’s an employment shortage everywhere. Bussing isn’t immune to it,” he said. “I think we’re doing OK. School bus route driver wise, we could use more.”
Georgette Wilson has been a driver for the past three years.
She said the connection with the students is one of the most satisfying aspects of the job.
“It’s a brand new year. You have kids you had last year. You have kids you haven’t seen before and that means more relationships with the kids,” Wilson said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Like many students and parents, she has one hope in particular for the new school year.
“For things to go smoothly,” Wilson said. “Picking up the children on time, getting them to school on time, picking them up from school and getting them home on time. And making sure they’re safe and you’re driving safe.”
In the coming days, several months of work and planning for that smooth school year will get put into action.
“It is like being a kid again. It’s the first day of school for us too,” Eisch said. “There’s some nervousness of course;you want to make sure everything goes perfect.”