Did you know that KCSD has trained its own school bus drivers for many years? Recently, two new driver’s were practicing backing up the school buses with cones, which will be part of a skills test to get their licenses.
Driver’s must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and in February of 2022 the Federal Government began to require the completion of an Entry Level Drivers Training program to obtain a CDL.
According to the district’s Transportation Department, It takes quite a bit of classroom training with quizzes and a test. Along with behind the wheel training on a course, which the district uses the KHS parking lot, and then takes new drivers on city streets for additional skills training.
The district wanted to offer the program, including the hours required, through the district to save new drivers time and money. After training with the district, the district takes one of our school buses to Burlington so that the new driver can take the final skills exam, which is administered there at the Iowa Drivers License office. The new driver runs through a series of skills tests beginning with an inspection, brake test, and a course driver skills test, all before they are taken out on the road with an examiner with the office. If they pass then they are issued a CDL license with the proper endorsements required for driving a school bus in Iowa.
After which, the new driver will drive a route with either the KCSD Transportation Director, or another CDL holder with the district for a while until they feel comfortable supervising the students while driving the route. A bus attendant also rides with the drivers on nearly every route in our district to add to the safety of everyone on the bus.
