![]() ![]() There are late busses everyday by hours.” -Teresa R. He is in first grade and doesn’t get done until 3:39. So my school now starts at 7:30 and my son at 9:00. “They changed the start times across my district and standardized them to be 7:30, 8:30, and 9:00 a.m. “One school in our county is having Paras drive buses.” -Alanna R. We polled our own community of teachers to find out what they think. Transportation companies are offering bonuses of up to $2000 in some areas.Chicago’s mayor has been talking to ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft to try to secure transportation for students.Some have turned to third-party vendors, but those drivers have been resigning too.Based on their own work schedules and/or access to a vehicle, this could be difficult or even impossible. Schools are encouraging parents to drop off and pick up their kids.Here are some of the temporary solutions we’re seeing across the country: On top of that, though, administrators and leaders are trying to address problems brought on by the pandemic. Those existing barriers continue to persist. Can the School Bus Driver Shortage Be Solved?Īs mentioned, struggles with school bus routes and drivers are nothing new. No-shows and extensive delays are common right now, so students and parents have had to find ways to cope with this situation. If you prefer to pick up your student until these bus issues have been resolved, please feel free to do so.” In the message, Gentry Middle School principal Josh Johnson wrote, “It is possible for some students not to arrive home until 2-2½ hours after school has been dismissed. In Missouri, an emailed newsletter set some shocking expectations for parents. Some Metro Detroit school districts have been forced to suspend bus routes until they can find drivers. Yes, there are bus route issues at the start of every school year, but things are exceptionally bad right now-even in major cities. For those who can’t or prefer not to use those options, the school bus driver shortage is a nightmare. In fact, some parents are sticking with virtual learning and homeschooling for now. Preparing for school during this pandemic is stressful for many. In the meantime, families are trying to navigate this additional problem. Potential drivers are worried about safety since children under 12 aren’t vaccinated.Ĭlearly, this is a complex issue that won’t be solved overnight.DMVs have had limited hours, making it hard for drivers to take road tests or get qualified.New hires need a commercial driver’s license.Drivers were furloughed when the pandemic forced closures in 2020.There are many reasons for the school bus driver shortage. In previous years, we’ve seen regionalized driver shortages, but nothing to the extent that we’re seeing today.” National School Transportation Association executive director, Curt Macysyn, told NPR, “This back-to-school period is nothing like the previous periods we’ve seen. ![]() Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening right now.Īccording to a nationwide survey, at least half of the student-transportation coordinators in this country would describe their school bus driver shortage as “severe” or “desperate.” This type of crisis is unprecedented. What many of us didn’t imagine, however, is that kids wouldn’t have a way to get to school. With the COVID delta variant and mask mandate battles creating chaos and uncertainty, we knew this third year of pandemic teaching wouldn’t be easy. What is causing this latest hurdle in an already challenging school year, and what can be done to fix it? Pandemic Bus Driver Crisis While this isn’t a new problem, it seems worse than ever. Parents and students across the country are scrambling to find alternative transportation due to a school bus driver shortage. Schools are open, but some students can’t get to campus. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |