The school system needs help, and it’s willing to pay. The Guilford Public Schools are in need of several different hires and is seeking qualified candidates for a number of immediate openings.

According to school officials, dinning services staff, recess monitors, daily substitute teachers, and bus drivers are urgently needed in the system.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jason Beaudin said that there are a number of reasons for the hiring difficulties.

“Guilford is no different than other school districts throughout the state who are struggling to fill open positions. The labor shortage has impacted us, primarily in these areas: dining services, daily substitutes, recess, and lunch aides,” said Beaudin.

According to Beaudin, there doesn’t seem to be a single root cause for the dearth of applicants, but rather a number of factors stemming from a new post-COVID employment era.

“It is hard to say that it is one thing that is making this year particularly hard to fill positions. I do believe that people may be hesitant to work in an environment where a portion of the population they serve is unvaccinated,” Beaudin said. “In addition, because of the labor shortage, people simply have a number of employment opportunities available to them that may better suit their needs.”

Beaudin encourages anyone interested to contact the school system and find out more about the available positions.

“We are very grateful to those in the Guilford community that have answered the call this year to help fill the positions we have had open. Anyone considering applying should visit our employment page at guilfordschools.org,” said Beaudin.

There are also positions in need of hires for the schools’ transportation program. According to Peggy Lindgren, terminal manager for Specialty Transportation, the company that Guilford school system uses, the part-time nature of the positions is a drawback for some potential candidates, and there is also the a lengthy certification process for drivers.

Drivers must obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in order to obtain employment in Connecticut, but the length of time required for training can cause some qualified candidates to look elsewhere.

Kelly Hanke, who heads up hiring at Specialty Transportation, said there are several factors that can slow the process for companies like hers.

“The hiring situation in the Guilford bus yard is slow. We are getting occasional applicants. Not everyone who applies is going to meet the requirements to of the state standards. School bus standards are very high,” said Hanke.

Though the hiring process is not ideal for all, the certification allows for candidates to obtain other driving positions and employment opportunities, according to several area transportation companies. These positions can be a great fit for candidates looking for an extra source of income, and also retirees seeking outside work.

“Some of the hurdles we are facing is that people have to complete an intensive background check with the fingerprint requirement, which goes national. Then the [Department of Children and Families] background check, which is also national,” Hanke said. “Finally, they have a motor vehicle background check where they require a clean driving history for the most part. The whole process from start to finish to get behind the wheel of one of our school buses takes anywhere from 6 to 11 weeks. We do offer paid training at minimum wage during this training period.”

Those interested in a position with the school, dinning staff, monitor, or substitute can visit the employment page at guilfordschools.org. Those interested in a bus driving job can contact Kelley Hanke or Peggy Lindgren at Specialty Transportation at 203-533-7852.