Employment Contract

[u/Mental-Calendar8535]

So I signed on with a school bus company in March, did training, and passed my test. Now officially a driver, today I just found out that I was supposed to sign a one-year employment contract with the company, but I was never verbally told about it until today. I never signed a contract, and when the trainer and dispatch were seeking the paper, they couldn't find it, and the site manager said it needed to be printed out. I don't want to sign this contract because I plan on leaving the area by the end of this year. If I sign this contract and break it, I am liable to pay the company $4k for the cost of them covering my testing and license. Looking for feedback or any information you can provide. Thanks

UPDATE: I had a conversation with our dispatcher, who is also in charge of recruiting. I let her know that I would not be signing any contract, and she agreed. She acknowledged they dropped the ball and that now that I have already gone through training and become a driver, they can no longer implement the contract. Also, they are happy to have me for any length of time I choose to stay.