During the past several years finding and retaining good school bus drivers has been a challenge for school districts all across Arizona and the country. The Paradise Valley Unified School District has been no exception to this shortage and is embarking on a new school bus driver recruitment incentive program to try to address that need.

Research has consistently shown that one of an organization's best sources for new people is through referrals from that organization's existing team members. With that research in mind the PVUSD has started the School Bus Driver Recruitment Incentive Program.

FAQs —

Q. How does the program work and who is eligible to refer applicants?

A. All regularly employed (non-temporary or substitute) classified, certified and administrative staff may refer bus driver applicants. The only exception would be employees from the Personnel office, Transportation supervisory staff and any employee who is involved with interviewing bus driver (or driving aide) candidates for the particular position(s) being filled.

Q. Who are eligible bus driver applicant referrals?

A. Any bus driver (or driving aide) applicant who has not been employed as a PVUSD bus driver (or driving aide) during the 6-month period prior to his/her application date may be referred as part of this program.

Q. How do I refer a bus driver applicant as part of this program?

A. Download the PVUSD Bus Driver Recruitment Incentive Program Form here, or get from your school, personnel or transportation office. Fill out Section II of the form, being certain to sign and date it as requested. Have the applicant you are referring fill out Section I of the same form and have him/her submit the form with his/her completed employment application to the Personnel office. For you to be eligible to participate in the recruitment incentive program, the referral form must be turned in at the same time as the employment application.

Q. How will I know if the bus driver applicant I refer has been hired?

A. The transportation department will send you written notification of your referred applicant's start date.

Q. What if more than one employee refers the same bus driver applicant?

A. If more than one employee refers the same bus driver applicant, any recruitment incentive will belong to the individual making the earlier referral, based on the "Date Signed" in Section II of the PVUSD Bus Driver Recruitment Incentive Program Form.

Q. What is the incentive to me for referring a bus driver applicant?

A. If you, as an "eligible" employee under the terms of this program, refer a bus driver (or driving aide) applicant according to the procedures of this program, and that person is hired as a bus driver (or driving aide) and he/she works continuously in that capacity for 30 days, you will receive a $100.00 recruitment incentive upon the referred bus drivers's (or driving aide's) 30-day anniversary date. If this referred bus driver (or driving aide) works continuously as a PVUSD bus driver (or driving aide) for one calendar year, you will receive an additional $200.00 recruitment incentive upon his/her one-year anniversary date.

Q. What will happen if the bus driver applicant I refer is hired and works continuously for one calendar year, but I quit or am terminated during that year? Will I still receive the recruitment incentive?

A. Yes. Even if you do not remain a PVUSD regular employee during the course of the referred applicant's one calendar year of employment, you will still be eligible to receive the recruitment incentive. It is your responsibility, however, to inform Transportation of the address to which the recruitment incentive should be mailed at the appropriate time.

Q. Are the recruitment incentive awards gross pay or net pay?

A. The recruitment incentive awards are gross pay; that is, the award is money subject to applicable taxes.

Q. How will I get paid?

A. Your recruitment incentive pay will be issued by the payroll department as additional compensation with your regular check.

Q. Is there a limit to the number of bus driver applicant referrals I may make?

A. No. There is no maximum number of applicant referrals per employee; however, only one recruitment incentive award will be issued per new bus driver referred.