Northern Virginia District PTA

FCPS Inviting Support from School PTAs

Help Resolve the FCPS Bus Driver Shortage 

The Superintendent and the Chief Operating Officer of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are inviting FCPS affiliated and non-affiliated PTA School Units to team with them in an effort to help resolve its critical bus driver shortage being experienced as its school population grows.

Traditional methods of recruiting drivers are not keeping pace with the need for new drivers.  This shortage challenges the ability of the school’s transportation system to provide all the requested support and to adequately plan for supporting future needs.    

FCPS is offering a financial reward to any FCPS affiliated PTA that recruits a successful driver candidate and invites other non-affiliated PTA units to spread the word on a great employment opportunity to the parents and families in their schools and as a public service to FCPS families and for the greater community.

FCPS considers PTA’s as vital team members in this new initiative.  Here are the main reasons why PTA’s are being asked to join FCPS in this vital effort:

• PTAs have a vested interest in helping to solve this shortage.  This partnership promotes the safety and education of all our children.  The initiative also addresses the needs of school families for financial stability and to enjoy excellent health benefit packages for the family whether they live in Fairfax County or not.  Work and vacation schedules for those living in Fairfax County offer the unique opportunity for professional drivers to spend more time with their family. 

• PTAs operate on a personal level, which facilitates job networking in the school community.  PTA members know the children and families in their schools and have a unique opportunity to communicate with those families that would benefit from this employment possibility. School PTA’s can use their communication channels to reach PTA families and the school community in an effort to alert qualified individuals of the chance to become a member of an elite and respected driving team for our kids.

• Those FCPS affiliated PTA will be rewarded $1,000 by FCPS for each successful bus driver that you have recruited during this school year that is employed for 90 work days. This school money could be used to help fund many of the special local school projects at their school. 

• FCPS has prepared an advertisement to be published as a public service announcement in your PTA Directory.  Understand this is a time sensitive issue that you should quickly consider: Directory Ad Image (right click to "save link as" or "save image as")

• Joining the FCPS Team - How Your PTA Can Help ~ a Road Map

Additional questions about the program may be directed to Norm Gottlieb, PTA/PTO Program Coordinator, norman.gottlieb@fcps.edu, 571 432-7808