During Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting, the board unanimously decided to recommend the approval of a new bus driver incentive.

The incentive is for bus driver’s attendance, which rewards them based on 60-day periods and school semesters.

Each period will be worth $1,000 for perfect attendance and each school semester is worth $500.

Bus drivers who miss zero routes per period will take home an extra $1,000. If they miss one route per period, they will take home $750 and if they miss two routes per period they will take home $500.

Each day has two routes, and a route is defined as either morning or afternoon regular run.

Any driver that misses two routes will be disqualified for that incentive period, but all drivers will requalify for incentives at the start of the next incentive period and semester.

Drivers can gain up to $4,000 in total yearly incentives.

In November they would receive their period one incentive for the max of $1,000. January they could receive their first semester perfect attendance for the max of $500. In March they would receive their period two incentives for another max of $1,000 and in June they could receive the period three incentives and second semester perfect attendance for a max of $1,500.

Superintendent Tim Cochran hopes this will encourage bus drivers to not miss a day and really take the time to make sure all routes are being taken in a timely and efficient manner.

The new incentives program will go into effect on January 1, 2019.