DES MOINES, Iowa — Pella Community Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling has many responsibilities, but every day after school he's the one behind the wheel of a big yellow bus.
"We had a need for some additional drivers this year. We had some retirees last year and had a difficult time," Greg Ebeling said.
The district says it needs both a morning and afternoon driver. With no luck in the hiring process, Ebeling is putting the pedal to the metal every day.
"Some people I think, think of bus driving as oh, that's a load of kids. That sounds crazy. How do you do that? How do you watch the kids? Is it going to be okay? But I've really enjoyed the experience," Ebeling said.
Ebeling recognizes the job comes with a non-traditional schedule, but he's willing to offer drivers incentives in order to get them behind the wheel.
"We have health insurance that is involved, we also do a $2,000 sign-on bonus, and we also have a referral bonus," Ebeling told Local 5.
If those benefits don't gas you up, Greg says the smiles from all the students surely will.
"There's just funny little quirky things that kids do so it doesn't take long before you're feeling like, I'm attached to those kids," Ebeling said.