The lyrics “the wheels on the bus go round and round,” are indelibly etched into the minds of most children from an early age.

However, what the famed song doesn’t mention is that it takes a highly trained and motivated individual to keep said wheels spinning. It is those individuals who are needed now more than to keep operations of southwest Michigan school districts running — including Dowagiac Union Schools.

The local district is currently seeking individuals to help fill out its roster of school bus drivers for the upcoming school year. Administrators are hoping to hire around five new operators to serve as either full-time or as substitute drivers, said Union Schools Superintendent Paul Hartsig.

The district will provide free training for new hires, as well a $400 sign-on bonus and $750 retention stipend.

Leaders are seeking new drivers to replace those who left the district over the summer due to retirement or to seek employment elsewhere, Hartsig said.

A downturn in the pool of available drivers has been a problem affecting Dowagiac and other area school districts over the last several years, due to the economic recovery creating more job opportunities — and, as a result, greater competition between districts to hire new drivers, Hartsig said.

“It is an ongoing problem that I believe every school district across the state is facing,” Hartsig said.

The district currently employs around a dozen drivers to handle transportation needs for local students, the superintendent said. Around 1,300 children and teens rely on bus pick-up and drop-off throughout the school year, as well as dozens more who use the bus for summertime programs such as summer school or Fitch Camp, Hartsig said.

While drivers with prior experience will be able to hit the road running, even those with no knowledge of bus operation are encouraged to apply, as the district will provide the mandatory training and testing in order to get new drivers state certified, Hartsig said. The district is interested in candidates that display traits that will make them excel on the job, including the ability to work with children, plenty of patience and strong integrity and work ethic, the superintendent said.

“We want quality people to match the quality of the drivers we already have on staff,” he said.

In spite of the departure of several drivers earlier this year, the current bus routes in place for the beginning of the fall semester next week should not be affected, Hartsig said.

“We have the people and plans in place to make sure the school year starts as smoothly as possible,” he said.