The upcoming school year is fast approaching, but the shortage of bus drivers continues to plague numerous districts across the country. The scarcity of bus drivers not only disrupts transportation networks but also places additional strain on families. As a result, some districts are forced to assign drivers to double routes, while others prioritize yellow bus services for their most vulnerable students. The problem of bus driver shortages is not a new issue, and educators are still searching for practical solutions.
The Current State of Bus Driver Shortages
According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the number of bus drivers employed in K-12 schools in September 2023 was approximately 192,400, a 15.1 percent decrease from September 2019. The data reveals a significant decline in the employment of state and local government school bus drivers by 13.6 percent during the same period, while private school bus driver employment has fallen by 21.5 percent.
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, highlighted the critical role bus drivers play in ensuring safe transportation for students, especially those with special needs. She emphasized that schools across the country rely on bus drivers to function effectively. However, the shortage of transportation staff can be attributed to their being severely underpaid for an extended period. Additionally, the lack of benefits makes it nearly impossible to recruit and retain employees in these positions.
The issue of insufficient benefits is not limited to school bus drivers. A recent report highlighted that even Uber Eats drivers are subjected to “tip baiting,” where tips are reduced after deliveries are completed. This lack of benefits and low pay makes it challenging for schools to attract and retain enough drivers to meet the growing demand for transportation services.
Struggles in the Hillsborough County School District
One district feeling the impact of the bus driver shortage is the Hillsborough County School District in Florida, the seventh-largest school district in the United States. Despite hiring over 100 new drivers during the summer, the district still requires an additional 150 drivers to meet the transportation needs of its 78,000 students.
Tanya Arja, the district’s chief of communications, cited low pay as a significant issue affecting their ability to recruit and retain drivers. She mentioned that neighbouring districts with additional millage increases approved by voters have more funding for salaries, making it challenging for Hillsborough County to compete. The district is proposing a millage increase for the upcoming November election to address this issue and ensure students can get to school on time without missing instruction.
To cope with the shortage, some Hillsborough County School District drivers must complete double routes for student pickups. Jude Bruno, President of the Florida PTA, noted that the nationwide driver shortage has been further exacerbated by the pandemic and stressed the importance of increasing wages to attract more drivers.
Challenges in Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in Illinois are facing similar challenges due to the ongoing bus driver shortage. As a result, CPS has prioritized yellow bus transportation for their most vulnerable students, including those with disabilities and students in temporary living situations. Despite efforts to address the shortage, CPS has seen a 22 percent increase in students requiring yellow bus transportation on the first day of school this year compared to the previous year.
The district has implemented various strategies to tackle the shortage, such as increasing driver wages and advocating for reasonable state testing and certification requirements. CPS recently approved a second increase in bus driver incentives and distributed a $1,000 retention bonus to eligible drivers to attract and retain more staff.
Zach Harig, a spokesperson for Hamilton Community Schools in Michigan, shared that educators, including the current Hamilton High School principal, a retired principal, and a 30-year veteran teacher, obtained commercial driver’s licenses to ensure uninterrupted bus operations due to the bus driver shortage.
Call for Long-Term Solutions
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, is urging leaders across the nation to provide long-term solutions to fix the ongoing bus driver shortage. She emphasizes the need to pay bus drivers like the professionals they are to ensure the safe and reliable transportation of students.
As districts grapple with the challenges posed by the bus driver shortage, it is clear that addressing the issue requires a multifaceted approach. From increasing wages and benefits to advocating for policy changes, educators, parents, and policymakers must work together to find sustainable solutions to ensure students have access to safe and reliable transportation to and from school.