Worcester to start new school year with fully staffed fleet of buses [Video]

The city of Worcester starts school on Monday and they have managed to do something many districts have struggled to do: Fill all of their bus driver positions before classes begin.Worcester Public Schools driver Jennifer O’Connor shines up her bus. “A clean bus is a happy bus,” she said. While other drivers were working out their routes.For the first year ever, the district has been able to fill all of their positions — 221 drivers total. “We took busing in-house about three years ago which allowed us to work with the UAW, which is the teachers union, and our bus drivers were now part of the teachers’ union,” said Director of Transportation Michael Freeman.The school system dropped the vendor they formerly used and guaranteed drivers 30 hours a week, making them full-time city employees. Freeman said that makes the drivers eligible for benefits including health insurance and retirement.Drivers are paid …