School bus driver training will be offered at Parkway School Dec. 15-17 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Before attending the class, anyone who is not a current school system employee must have a recommendation from the principal or assistant principal at the school where they want to be hired.

“We have a continuing need for additional bus drivers, and we encourage everyone who is interested in being a school bus driver to obtain the required recommendation and attend these classes,” said Watauga County Schools transportation director Toni Weaver Floyd.

A school bus driver training class must be completed in order to receive the license (CDL) required to drive a school bus in North Carolina. The starting pay for school bus drivers in Watauga County is currently $12.89 per hour.

Each student’s driving record is screened through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles the first day of class. In addition to the driving record check, a criminal background check is conducted of al prospective school system employees before they start work.

Each student should bring their driver’s license, Social Security card, a pen or pencil, and a highlighter to the first meeting.

Contact Floyd at (828) 264-6391 for additional information.