Seneca Valley DME

JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley School District officials are looking to add additional bus drivers for the 2025-26 school year.

During a meeting on Monday, Sept. 15, the board unanimously approved an additional bus driver list provided by its new transportation company, First Student.

“We’re constantly looking to hire more bus drivers,” said communications director Ian Hunter, who added he could not specify how many drivers the district is seeking to employ at this time.

Other school districts, namely Butler, have faced bus driver shortages to begin the school year. Part of the problem finding drivers is other school districts, including Seneca Valley, are offering significant financial incentives other districts are struggling to match.

Job postings in late August showed new bus drivers were being offered hiring bonuses ranging from $4,000 to $7,500 at Seneca Valley.

Earlier this year, the district entered into a $70 million agreement with First Student, a national transportation company that serves more than 500 school systems across the U.S. and Canada. The company reports it provides daily rides for roughly 5.5 million students at more than 19,000 schools.

Per the district’s website, Seneca Valley covers about 150 daily bus routes.