SANDPOINT — Community members will have the chance to get behind the wheel of a school bus at the Lake Pend Orielle School District's Drive the Bus event on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., giving prospective bus drivers a hands-on opportunity to see if the job is a good fit for them. 

"We're always looking for bus drivers," said LPOSD Director of Transportation James Koehler, adding that the district needs substitute bus drivers to cover routes for activities like sports games and field trips. 

Attendees will drive a bus through a simple parking lot course, meet the district's transportation team, ask questions, and learn more about becoming an LPOSD bus driver. 

The district runs 34 routes each school day, covering a combined distance of 1,800 miles and transporting nearly 900 students to and from school. 

"Each day, we're driving about the distance of what it would be to drive from here to Texas," said Koehler. 

In search of ways to reach more potential bus drivers, the district decided to host the event, which is the first of its kind. 

"We thought, 'what if we just set up a really simple course with a few different events in it in a confined space off the roadway where they can get into a school bus, see how it feels to drive it, and maybe build a little bit of confidence,'" said Koehler. 

All employees begin as substitute drivers, but once a full-time position opens, the district hires from the substitute pool. 

"It's always good to get some practice as a sub driver first anyway, before we hire you as a full-time driver," said Koehler. 

Future bus drivers undergo Class B CDL training. Upon finishing the program, individuals are certified to drive large vehicles, including school buses. On average, Koehler said the program can be completed in three weeks. 

Koehler encouraged community members interested in attending the event to come, even if they have no experience driving a school bus. 

For many, a lack of experience may be a leading deterrent for not attending. However, Koehler assured that new bus drivers will meet several requirements before driving students. 

"Our training program is very, very thorough, and we never put any driver out on the road by themselves until they're ready," said Koehler. 

Driver benefits include a $2,000 sign-on bonus, competitive wages, medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, and time off on weekends, holidays and during the summer. 

Koehler said that bus drivers play a pivotal role for many students. 

"It's super rewarding," said Koehler. "They're the first person that the students see in the morning that they greet on the bus, and they're the last staff member that they see going home."