During a recent government meeting, officials provided an update on the ongoing challenges faced by the transportation department as the school year progresses. The department is actively seeking to hire additional bus drivers, with a call for interested candidates to reach out to Mr. Bramley.

As of now, the transportation team is short-staffed, particularly in the first two tiers of bus routes. For tier 1, there is a need for 92 drivers, but only 80 are currently available, resulting in a shortfall of 12 drivers. Despite efforts to streamline routes, the situation is exacerbated by a 10 to 20% call-off rate among existing drivers, making it difficult to maintain consistent service.

In tier 2, the need is similarly critical, with 98 drivers required but only 80 available, plus a few supplemental drivers. The third tier appears to be more stable, with 80 drivers available for a need of 73, although after-school activity routes across five middle schools still pose a logistical challenge.

The transportation department has been holding job fairs to recruit new drivers, but progress has been slow. Additionally, the issue of paid ridership has been addressed, with 88 requests received from parents. Of these, only 30 were approved due to space limitations on existing routes, while 43 requests were denied, highlighting the ongoing struggle to accommodate all students.

Overall, the meeting underscored the pressing need for more drivers and the impact of staffing shortages on timely transportation for students, which has caused stress for both children and parents alike.