By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

CLANTON — The need for more Chilton County Schools bus drivers was presented to the Board of Education during a work session Thursday.

Transportation Director Jason Griffin said he understood that new positions were on hold for the time being.

“I’m fine with that, but I do want to tell you that we need those positions,” Griffin said. “We are still having situations where are we are having to put a mechanic on the bus [to] drive the bus [because there are not enough drivers]. We need some extra help.”

Filling new positions has been put on hold while the school system closes out the fiscal year with the help of a consulting firm. The board accepted the Chilton County Schools chief financial officer’s resignation on Nov. 18. The resignation will be effective March 1. The chief financial officer had been on medical related administrative leave.

Griffin said the state funding regulations for bus driver positions were complicated, but he could answer specific questions board members had.

“I appreciate all that you guys do, and whatever you decide it’s important that you have this information,” Griffin said.

Griffin also spoke of the efforts of school bus driver to keep students safe. He recounted how a 18-wheeler tractor trailer had crossed the center line into a school bus’s lane on Wednesday. The school bus driver was able to maneuver out of the way.

“No one was injured or hurt. The bus was fine,” Griffin said. “We deal with that every day.”

While the system is not hiring for new positions, the transportation department is adding substitute bus drivers. Griffin said school systems across the nation are facing similar needs.

For more information about becoming a substitute school bus driver, contact Griffin at 205-280-2950.

The Chilton County Board of Education will meet Monday at 1:30 p.m. for a called meeting. The board is expected to discuss the job description for a chief financial officer to be used during the search to fill the position.