PARIS – Ron Deegan, the SAD 17 transportation director, is a believer in banner advertising. Since tying a big banner to a school bus, advertising for bus drivers, Deegan has received a dozen applications. Three of the applicants are now going through the bus driving training program.

The bus has been parked during the day next to the tennis courts facing Fair Street at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. The traffic counts there are arguably the highest anywhere in the eight-town school district, and the 4- by 12-foot banner has gotten people’s attention.

Newspaper advertising and word-of-mouth referrals have brought in some prospective drivers, but not enough, Deegan said.

“There’s a school bus driver shortage in the nation. We’re all struggling to find school bus drivers,” he said. The positions being filled are for substitute drivers, and pay $10.32 an hour. Candidates have to pass background tests and be fingerprinted, and must earn a commercial driver’s license and meet standards for management of a bus full of kids, Deegan said.

“We can’t promise them a full-time job, but it’s one way to get your foot in the door,” he said.

Deegan said he got the idea for the banner while at a national school transportation conference out west.

“We need to look at a lot of ways to bring in prospective drivers,” he said.