MOULTRIE, Georgia (WCTV) – The labor shortage is dragging on employers across the country, and school districts in South Georgia are desperate for people to apply for jobs.
It’s a problem that Colquitt County Superintendent Ben Wiggins said all school districts have mostly service jobs like bus drivers and canteen workers.
In front of the Education Directorate building, you can see a school bus with the label “Bus Driver Wanted”. Wiggins said this was one of many ways the district has tried to encourage people to apply for jobs while increasing the pay for the positions.
“Every school system in the state of Georgia and across the country is really struggling to get employees post-COVID,” Wiggins said.
Bus routes have been consolidated to make up for the shortage, and replacement drivers help transport students on a daily basis. However, Wiggins said these changes are not a permanent fix and that he will need nine drivers to complete the transportation staff.
“We’re looking for cafeteria attendants,” said Mandy Kinsey, the school feeding program director.
Kinsey said the program is also understaffed and she is looking for seven guards to work in the cafeteria. The position includes truck unloading, food storage and cleaning.
“Most of my employees are used to having multiple people in these positions, and now nobody does these positions,” she said, and now the kitchen staff has done the extra work.
Wiggins said the district is fortunate to have over 100 jobs in the school system, but some key jobs are still understaffed and he is committed to doing whatever it takes to fill them.
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