Photos And Story By Tamas Mondovics
Students To Receive Healthy Meals During The Summer Break
To make sure students receive nutritionally balanced meals this summer, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Student Nutrition Services (SNS) are now offering several opportunities as it rolls out its Movin’ Meals summer food service program.
For the past six years SNS have been bringing food into communities through its Movin’ Meals “food buses” providing thousands of meals.
According to school officials five retired and renovated district school buses have been selected to deliver meals into neighborhoods offering breakfast and lunch until Wednesday, August 2.
Students can eat on the air-conditioned buses.
The purpose of the annual summer program is to reach communities where children may not have access to a neighborhood school or park.
The buses will stop at a number of locations throughout the area including some serving the Brandon and Valrico Lithia communities.
Hillsborough County Public Schools also offers the Extended School Year
program, providing students breakfast and lunch at no cost at schools that provide summer school programs. Monday through Thursday, in select schools this summer, all children 18 years old and younger can come to an open school, regardless of whether the child is enrolled in summer school.
For more information, please contact Tanya Arja in the Communications Office at 272-4060.
Hillsborough County Public Schools To Hire 200 Bus Drivers, Mechanics For Upcoming Season
In the wake of its controversial decision to eliminate courtesy busing to thousands of students throughout the county, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) recently announced its plans to hire school bus drivers and mechanics for the upcoming school year, now set to begin a bit earlier on August 10.
To launch the summer hiring campaign, HCPS officials have scheduled to host a series of Information Sessions and Hiring Events as the Transportation Services department is looking to hire close to 200 school bus drivers before the start of the new school year.
Transportation officials are seeking individuals who are motivated, compassionate and dedicated to providing safe and reliable transportation
“School bus drivers play an important role in providing safe, timely, efficient and courteous transportation services to our students,” HCPS External Communications Manager, Tanya Arja stated in a recent press release.
In addition, the School District is in need of bus mechanics.
A flexible working environment with benefits such as paid federal holidays and a competitive benefits package are promised, while officials said that no experience is necessary and paid training will be provided to suitable candidates who have a clean driving record and no criminal background.
Anyone with excellent driving abilities and an interest in helping students is encouraged to attend one of seven information sessions scheduled for Monday, July 10 and July 17, at the Transportation District Office, 9455 Harney Rd. in Thonotosassa and at HCPS’s Area 1 Transportation Office, 5002 N. Lois Ave. in Tampa, respectively.
It is noteworthy that HCPS officials also announced that the current budget for public education will not provide enough funding for the district’s increased costs and anticipate a budget deficit.
“We will continue to advocate for all students so that they can be successful and achieve their dreams,” said Superintendent Jeff Eakins.
The open application lab times for school bus drivers and information or to sign-up for an upcoming event, visit bit.ly/NowHiringBusDrivers or call 982-5521. You can get updates on the hiring events @HCPSschoolbus.
Following the information session, District officials will be on hand to assist in beginning the application process and will provide tours of the school bus centers.
