Pender County Schools to increase bus driver pay, upgrade bus radios

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Pender County Schools is investing new money in bus driver recruitment, retention, and transportation safety, which was provided by the County’s Board of Commissioners.

The district will raise the starting wage for bus drivers from $16.26 to $17.75 per hour.

Bus monitors will also see a pay adjustment.

The increase will bring Pender County’s bus driver wages closer to those of other Cape Fear counties and help retain experienced staff.

Superintendent Brad Breedlove said this will help the county address its bus driver shortage.

“We want to show the investment in our drivers, you know, they are professionals in what they do,” Breedlove said. “And hopefully this will attract more individuals that will want to drive a bus for us. It’s a tough job, but it’s also a rewarding job.”

Breedlove also announced that the district will invest $400,000 to upgrade the radio systems in school buses, schools, and the transportation department.

Breedlove added that the upgraded radios will be placed in more than 100 buses, but the upgrades may not be fully completed until after this school year.