NLPS to offer bus driver training

Norther Lights Public Schools will soon offer a different type of education.

The school board received approval from the province that they can offer bus driver training.

NLPS pursued becoming a bus driver training school with the looming fear earlier this year that all bus drivers would need the MELT (mandatory entry-level training) and S-Endorsement for the Class 1 and Class 2 license by July 31.

That deadline was extended by the province to July 31, 2020.

“It’s great for us because it means now when we hire drivers will be able to train them ourselves, which obviously saves us some money too,” said NLPS communications officer Nicole Garner.

“It also means that bus contractors won’t have to send those drivers to Edmonton because it is a course delivered over a series of days,” she said.

Garner said the school division is not quite ready to roll out the program but would look to after the school year begins to figure out the details.

The MELT training and S-endorsement could be offered to drivers within Northern Lights and outside of the division, said Garner.

“The next step will be with implementing what it’s going to look like and who we can offer to and that kind of stuff,” she said.

“Then we’re going to be putting out more information on how that training can be accessed.”

Northern Lights has two staff approved driving instructors and one staff member approved as a senior driving instructor.

Usually, the school division has to cope with retaining bus drivers.

In March, it was reported that there’s been a 40 per cent turnover in bus drivers in the past three years.

Garner said she’s heard that the division is in good shape heading into the school year.

“Again, it is always challenging. There are some of our contractors are still looking for drivers. But we’re always hopeful that those positions will be killed before school starts. They usually are, that usually hasn’t been an issue, but sometimes it’s pretty close.”

Provincial bus driver requirements

To support Alberta’s schools, new school bus drivers will have until July 31, 2020, to apply for an extension to comply with the MELT program for new commercial drivers and to get their required School Bus Driver Improvement Program S endorsement. To be eligible, school bus providers must apply for the extension by filling out the application form (PDF, 163 KB) on behalf of their employees.

Drivers who get their Class 2 driver’s license under the extension must still meet the new MELT standards. These drivers must take and pass the enhanced knowledge and road test (based on the new Class 2 MELT curriculum) by July 31, 2020, to keep their driver’s Class 2 driver’s license.

Drivers approved for an extension will have until July 31, 2020 to:

• study the Commercial Driver’s Guide to prepare for testing
• take and pass the pre-MELT knowledge and road tests to get their Class 2 driver’s license
• take and pass the MELT enhanced knowledge and road tests to keep their Class 2 driver’s license
• get their S endorsement training

New school bus drivers are still encouraged to take the MELT program, but it is not mandatory during the extension period.