A member of the Transportation Department will be in contact with you in a timely manner. We appreciate your interest!
Thank you for expressing interest in becoming a certified bus operator for the Rapides Parish School Board. Once you've completed this survey we will be able to assist you with becoming a member of the team who helps ensure our students are safely transported from home to school and back.
Our goal is to hire at least 11 new "full time" drivers to be employed by October 1, 2024. Please note that a "full time" bus operator position is a 4 hour a day, 20 hour per week position with "full time" benefits, including a salary of approximately $29.35 per hour ($21,132 annually), state retirement, access to state group health insurance, and other school board benefits.
Please note that per state law, all school bus operators must be at least 21 years old.
The current full time vacancies include:
3 in the Buckeye Community
4 in the Parish-wide Magnet/Montessori drivers/Special Education
2 for Huddle/AMMS/Peabody
1 for Cherokee/Brame/ASH
1 for Alma Redwine/AF Smith/Peabody
In addition, we need many substitute drivers who are willing to help when in need.
Our goal is that you have no out of pocket expenses as you earn your Commercial Driver's License with your School Bus and Passenger endorsements as long as you commit to the Rapides Parish Public School System for the 2024-2025 school year. However, you will have to cover some costs such as a CDL physical, third party tester fee and DMV licensing for which you may seek reimbursement once employed.
In order to be employed by October 1, 2024 you will need to do the following:
Schedule and pass a CDL physical - you must schedule, pass, and pay for this as soon as possible. Keep your receipt and you can request reimbursement upon hiring.
Schedule and take the CDL licensing exam through the Office of Motor Vehicles. You can come by our offices at 619 Sixth Street to pick up a study guide (for free) or find them online at https://www.expresslane.org/resources/driver-manuals/ (select CDL manual). Once the exam is passed, you will receive a CDL permit, and you may request reimbursement for the cost of the exam. There is a 14 day window that must elapse between receiving your permit and testing with the third party tester. After passing the skills test with the third party tester, you may apply for the official CDL with appropriate endorsements. Therefore, in order to be employed by October 1, 2024, you must take and pass the CDL exam no later than September 17, 2024.
Participate in the mandatory training for school bus operators September 16-20, 2024 from 8:30 am through 2:30 pm daily. The training will be held at 2121 Mason Street, Alexandria, Louisiana.
Schedule and complete the required 10 hours of supervised driving with approved RPSB trainer: (4 hours of which must be with students on the bus).
If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Transportation Director, Mr. Alan Fontenot at alan.fontenot@rpsb.us.
The 11 "full time" positions, employed by October 1 will be eligible for:
The November distribution of the 2016 excess sales tax collection, which has been an average of $1,360 over the last three years.
The one-time salary supplement of $1,000 approved by the state Legislature for the 2024-2025 school year. This will be paid out before December 31,2024.
And, for those employed through May 23, 2025, the "13th check," which has been an average of $3,500 over the last three years.
Note: Substitute operators are not eligible for these distributions