Eastern Kentucky school bus drivers threaten walkout over wages. ‘We won’t move’

Upset by low pay, Letcher County School bus drivers are threatening to stage a walkout this fall if they don’t get a 5% increase in salary.

“The first day of school (Aug. 14), instead of doing our bus runs, we plan on driving to the bus garage and parking our buses. And we won’t move until we get the 5% raise,” driver Nadean Hayes said in an interview.

For Josh Brown, a driver for more than six years, the increase would be only 75 cents per hour from $15.17 to $15.92.

“It’s not a significant amount, but it’s a start,” said Brown.

The starting pay for a Letcher County bus driver with no experience is $12.93, according to district records. Drivers with 15 or more years of experience make $17.61 an hour, the documents show.

Hayes said other nearby Eastern Kentucky school district bus drivers earn more than that.

“Their starting pay is at least $15 (per hour),” said Brown.

Hayes pointed to nearby Breathitt County Schools, where school bus drivers with up to three years of experience earn $22.37 per hour, typically working 4 to 6 hours per day.

“Amid declining student enrollment, the local Board of Education has taken strategic steps to maintain student services while adapting to shifting needs,” Breathitt County Superintendent Phillip Watts told the Herald-Leader Wednesday. “Bus drivers with up to three years of experience earned $22.37 per hour last year, typically working 4 to 6 hours per day. A number of these drivers have also taken on additional duties throughout the school day.”

In 2022, TV station WCPO reported that in Northern Kentucky, Campbell County school bus drivers were protesting a $16.65 per hour starting salary.

Letcher County Superintendent Denise Yonts told the Herald-Leader she and school board members support improving compensation but have to make financially sustainable decisions. The school district, about 2 1/2 hours southeast of Lexington, had nearly 3,000 students in the spring of 2024, according to state records.

“As superintendent of Letcher County Schools, I want to acknowledge the concerns raised by our valued bus drivers regarding their compensation,” said Yonts. “The Board and I recognize the importance of fair and competitive wages, and we are committed to working through this issue in good faith. While the Board is supportive of improving compensation for our drivers and all staff, there are ongoing discussions about what is financially sustainable for the district.”

The decisions are never easy, Yonts said, especially given the district’s fiscal responsibilities, and the wide range of student needs officials must meet.

“We are hopeful that a resolution can be reached without disruption to student transportation,” she said. “We respect the rights of our employees to advocate for better wages, and we remain open to dialogue that leads to a fair outcome for everyone involved.”

Five Letcher County school bus drivers spoke to the Herald-Leader this week.

Rebecca Fields said she has been driving for more than five years, and her take-home pay is $661 every two weeks.

“That’s not enough to provide for a family,” she said.

Driver Joshua Webb said the district is short on school bus drivers.

“Just about every day this year, I’ve had to double up runs, do my run and somebody else’s run at the same time, getting these kids home later,” Webb said.

The school bus drivers say people can make more in their area working as a custodian.

State law says no public employee, collectively or individually, may engage in a strike or a work stoppage. But in the past, some incidents of protests by school staff have occurred.

Fayette County Public Schools and other districts canceled classes in 2019 after advocates called for a teacher “sick out” to protest a legislative proposal.

In 2018, thousands of public school teachers and their supporters waved signs and marched to the Kentucky Capitol to protest legislative changes to their pensions and education cuts.

In 2023, Nelson County Schools were closed for two days as district staff protested middle school inequities.

“I can guarantee there will be many drivers not driving on the first day of school,” Hayes said in a text. “We may have to use our sick days and call in, but we won’t be driving till our needs are met.”

This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM.