MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County School students are getting ready to head back to class in weeks but finding qualified bus drivers has been a challenge.
The General Manager of Durham School Services at the Getwell location said the company has had a tough time getting candidates who can pass the criminal background check.
Durham School Services encountered dozens of problems last school year; most of them crashes.
One driver was even busted for smoking marijuanna while on duty.
Some said it’s upsetting to know Durham was still struggling to bring in candidates who could pass a criminal background check.
“It is concerning that they are not, but I think you need to keep that, I’m sorry you can’t drive the bus because you can’t, but you’re around kids,” said Denise Westbrooks who had two grandchildren in Shelby County Schools.
They re-screened all of their drivers last year after the pot arrest.
Terrance Tiller, the General Manager, hoped the job fairs this week and next week would help bring in better candidates this time around.
“No felonies. You can`t have any felonies and you have to be able to pass a successful completion of a criminal records background check including fingerprints,” he said.
Dwayne Tolbert who had two children in Shelby County Schools said it was unfair to penalize people who made mistakes in the past.
“I do believe in second chances. I’d probably give them a second chance and second time mess up, that’s it,” he stated.
Durham said although it has been overwhelmed with applications, the company has focused on bringing in the right people who could do the job.
“A strict process, I understand and we don`t want to scare anybody off but we want the people that fit this,” Tiller replied.
Durham held two job fairs this week and there are two next week.
Next Monday, there’s one at New Hickory Hill Missionary Baptist Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There’s also one next Tuesday at the Durham facility on Farmville Road in North Memphis.
