During the legislative update period, board member Michelle Lieber asked whether the district’s multi‑year request for a separate licensing pathway for school bus drivers had advanced. District staff gave a status update and said little progress has been made.

Mister Breuer, speaking for transportation staff, said the district sought a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver that would let school‑bus drivers receive a CDL designated specifically for school buses and avoid a full under‑the‑hood inspection requirement. He said the waiver would shorten training time and reduce driver attrition by making the school‑bus CDL less competitive with the commercial truck market.

“Not having that waiver results in an increased training requirement, longer training times, which can result in more fallout of potential bus drivers,” Mister Breuer said. He added that the state DMV would need to create a different licensing protocol and that the DMV has not been willing to move without legislative direction.

The nut graf: District representatives said they shared information with state education associations and lawmakers but have seen “not significant progress” so far; one board member offered to raise the request with state legislators.

Context: Staff and board members emphasized that staffing and transportation challenges disproportionately affect outlying communities where travel distances and driver recruitment are more difficult. Hinesen and another board member said they would pursue legislative introductions or outreach to committee chairs to press the issue.