How many times in the past couple years have we heard that there aren't enough bus drivers for JCPS? Here's something I just learned: There may be enough people who want to drive the buses, but reading and writing English may be a barrier preventing them.
When you go for your regular driver's license, the written test is available in 26 languages. When you go to get a Commercial Driver's License — or a CDL — the test is only available in English. Kentucky has never invested in the translations for CDL tests.
It will cost about $50,000 to offer these tests in Spanish and one other language. That will leave us 23 short but it's a start.
By law, this can't be done at the local level, because CDL licenses are issued by the state. I am told Gov. Beshear agrees this must be done, but the legislature isn't planning on opening up the budget for this.
Considering how big a problem this shortage of drivers is for JCPS, parents and kids, and with a possible solution at hand, it seems like Kentucky should be able to find $50,000 to solve a big problem. This would be helpful to other school districts around the state, too.
Contact your elected officials and encourage them to open up workforce opportunities to certify qualified people who want to fill this void.
I'm Bill Lamb, and that's my Point of View.
