Want to test drive a school bus?

If you’ve ever thought about being a school bus driver but wonder what it’s like to steer that big yellow vehicle, here’s your chance:

The Derby school district, just south of Wichita, will host two “Try-It-Out Days” for people interested in driving a bus.

The events are 8-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Panther Stadium, 801 E. Madison in Derby.

Derby, which serves about 7,000 students, is trying to fill at least eight bus-driver positions before the school year starts in August, officials said.

Participants don’t need any previous training or a commercial driver’s license to drive at the event, said Joe Dessenberger, director of operations for the Derby district.

“Our hope is to generate interest in training to be a school bus driver and showing interested people just how easy driving one is,” Dessenberger said.

School districts nationwide are experiencing what officials say is the worst bus driver shortage in recent years. Last spring First Student, a Cincinnati-based private company that provides bus service for Wichita schools, held special hiring events and offered a $500 signing bonus to attract more people to the job.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Want to test drive a school bus?."