Transportation director reports improved recruiting, fleet repairs and vacancies remain

Dan Gilman, director of transportation, briefed the board on staffing, fleet and operations. He reported the department runs 102 buses and achieved a 96% inspection score this year, near a multi‑decade record of over‑90% performance. Current staffing included 73 regular drivers (not counting activity drivers) with three drivers in training and nine regular-driver vacancies plus eight activity-driver vacancies.

Gilman said the community-supported Prop R wage increases in June helped recruitment; the district has hired six drivers since the wage increases and has seen more applications in recent months than in prior years. He said the department transports roughly 68% of the district’s students daily (February audited figure) and operates a two‑bay shop that also supports facilities, food service, technology and driver education. Gilman said GPS tracking equipment is in the fleet (installed in 2012) but needs an upgrade.

Board members thanked the department for recruiting progress and the improved replacement cadence for buses enabled by recent bond/prop funding; Gilman said bus-office renovations remain delayed. The presentation was informational; no board action was required.