Berkeley County Schools ready to roll with full contingent of bus drivers

BERKELEY COUNTY, W.Va. ( DC News Now ) — Staffing school bus drivers for routes is challenging in the eastern panhandle, especially since the pandemic.

However, Berkeley County Schools said they will start this school year with a fully operational team of drivers when classes resume on Monday.

Last year some routes actually had to be cancelled because of a shortage of drivers.

The head of bus transportation for the school system said the turnover of drivers over the past few years has been unprecedented, but recruitment efforts have paid off.

“A loss of bus operators and trying to get them back has been a tough road,” said Eric Keesecker, executive director for transportation with Berkeley County Schools. “But we are in a much better spot than we were last year. All our routes are covered. That wasn’t the case last year.”

Keesecker reminds all drivers out there to watch for students as they board and exit their school bus.

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