District reports driver shortages, app outages during start of school

Wentzville School District officials reported transportation challenges at the start of the 2025–26 school year and outlined immediate workarounds and recruitment plans. The district said 20 bus routes did not have permanent drivers when school began; the district is covering those routes with floaters, substitutes and transportation administrators. Officials said 14 drivers are currently in training and that three drivers and one aide were added after a walk-in interview the prior day. District leaders also cited heavy construction and traffic changes around some schools that required on-the-fly routing adjustments. The district acknowledged intermittent outages of the stop-finder app that families use to track buses and said it is working with the vendor to resolve the problem. In the meantime, officials said the district will resume sending emails or text messages when buses are late and will share tips to maximize the app’s usefulness. The district reported nearly 9,000 stop-finder invitations accepted, representing most bus-using families. District officials asked the public to refer potential driver candidates to the transportation team, noting multiple scheduling options and a benefits package for new hires. Superintendent remarks to the board emphasized appreciation for families’ patience and for the transportation and administrative staff covering routes during the transition.