Years after their tours ended, nine Post Falls veterans have enlisted in a new cause. 

Driving a school bus. 

“These guys are still giving back, well after they did their tours of duty,” said Post Falls School District Director of Transportation Candy Arnold. “It’s pretty impressive to me.”

Arnold said she and the previous director would love to take credit for their hires, but the veterans applied on their own. She said their military experience gives them strong skills to navigate, handle conflict on the bus, and ensure student safety.     

“They’re just well-equipped to do that job,” she said. “It’s a good fit.” 

Driver John Brooks, a veteran of the Idaho Army-National Guard, started driving buses for PFSD around 23 years ago. Soon after, his mechanical experience in the Army-National Guard led to his promotion to lead mechanic. After an injury made the mechanic work hard, Brooks chose to return to driving. 

“The passion always comes back to the kids,” he said. “You want to get them to and from school as safely as possible.” 

He called the work “rewarding.”

Brooks said his love for kids stretches back to when he worked on a farm. He’d often teach the middle and high school farm hands how to use the large equipment and work the fields.       

“Being able to work with them and see them grow, making relationships,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.” 

Driver David Boyer, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, was hired after seeing advertisements for open driver positions and calling the bus depot office. 

“They nearly grabbed me over the phone,” he said. 

Boyer didn’t have a commercial driver’s license, but the PFSD helped him get trained for one. He called driving the bus “a natural progression” and said he “loves the kids.” Another aspect of the job he appreciates is the camaraderie with the other veterans. 

“We’ve got about all the branches covered,” he said. 

PFSD is hiring new bus drivers; Boyer said the need is huge. 

“We are really hurting for someone who wants to step up and be a bus driver,” he said. 

Boyer said that while the bus depot is “kind of always short” of drivers, their current situation is “critical.” He added that several routes are opening and qualified mechanics and office personnel are having to fill in.   

He said even those without a CDL can apply and that the district has resources to help an individual get one. 

Boyer challenged any local veteran to apply.

Arnold hopes the challenge is answered and called it a “fantastic idea” to bring more veterans on board.  

“It’s a need within our community and people who have that nature to be giving and generous in their time, it’s something they can do to give back,” she said. 

Anyone interested in applying should contact the Post Falls School District Transportation Department at [email protected] or
208-773-4217.