School bus driver training will be offered at Watauga High School January 29-31. The
classes run from 8:30-3:00 each day and there is no fee for this training.
Before attending the class, anyone who is not a current Watauga County Schools
employee must have a recommendation from the principal or assistant principal at the school where they want to be hired.

“We encourage everyone who is interested in being a school bus driver to obtain the
required recommendation and attend these classes,” said WCS Transportation Director Jeff Lyons.

A school bus driver training class must be completed in order to receive the license
(CDL) required to drive a school bus in North Carolina. The starting pay for school bus drivers in Watauga County is $13.04 per hour.

Each student’s driving record is screened through the NC Division of Motor Vehicles the
first day of class. In addition to the driving record check, a criminal background check is conducted of all prospective school system employees before they start work.
Each student should bring their driver’s license, social security card, a pen or pencil, and a highlighter to the first meeting. For directions or additional information, please contact Jeff Lyons at 828 264-6391.