Share on LinkedIn

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - After more than 35 years, Waco ISD is now back in control of its transportation department, allowing the district to operate its bus systems and provide upgrades for buses and bus drivers.

“Waco ISD has not operated its own bus system in over 30 years,” Dr. Ricky Edison, the Waco ISD Director of Transportation, said. “We want to improve our processes and improve our systems here. In Waco ISD, we can do that.”

Waco ISD contracted its transportation services to another transportation company in 1988. This school year, because it is running the department, the district is able to make improvements with hiring, pay and safety.

One upgrade the district is installing on its buses this summer is a new camera system.

“We have not had a new camera system in over 20 years,” he said. “We will have eight cameras on every one of our buses that will be installed this summer.”

The cameras will be installed on the inside and outside.

“That is going to help us and help our process and help our systems to provide the best safety that we possibly can for students,” Edison said.

The district is also installing its first set of GPS systems on its buses.

“We will be able to track and see where the busses are through our GPS system for the first time in Waco ISD,” he said. “Those are going to help us to provide the safest possible routes for our kids and the most efficient routes for our kids.”

Because the district is now operating the bus system, Edison said bus drivers will have better pay and better benefits. Waco ISD’s starting salary for drivers is $27 an hour, according to Edison.

“This is a major increase from what was previously done last year,” he said. “Right now, we have the highest pay for bus drivers in our region here. Working for Waco ISD is going to be a big benefit to our drivers. There are things that we can offer here within the district, including the higher level of pay that we want drivers to get.”

Edison added that the transition should be seamless, and students and parents should not notice a major difference at the bus stops.

“We are going to provide the same service and provide an even better service with some of the things that we’re doing to improve our system here,” he said. “Parents will see no change from the system that they had. The only expectation is that we are going to improve a lot of our systems and our efficiency with the way we operate our buses.”

The district is still in need of bus drivers and is asking anyone who is interested to apply here.

“As far as right now, there is a nationwide bus shortage, but we are putting things in place to where we are trying to solve that issue and provide the best opportunities for our drivers and attract the very best drivers to come work for Waco ISD with everything new that we’re putting in place and to make this the best possible place as we can,” Edison said.

The district officially took over operations July 1.