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Lebanon schools: driver shortage may limit after‑school transportation; district offers limited reimbursements
Summary
Superintendent warned the board that a shortage of bus drivers could prevent guaranteed busing for many after‑school activities, and said the district will prioritize getting students home while asking coaches and families to consider carpooling or other arrangements.
Lebanon City Schools’ superintendent told the board on March 17 that a shortage of school bus drivers has created uncertainty about transportation for after‑school extracurricular events and that the district cannot guarantee buses for many activities.
Superintendent Sievers said, “We can't guarantee that we're gonna have a bus available after school for any activity ever at this point in time because we are short on drivers.” He said the district currently has several vacant routes and long‑term absences among drivers that have reduced available staff.
Dan English, a resident, longtime coach and grandparent, told the board he’s concerned about the impact on families who may have to provide their own transportation and the effect on coaches who routinely travel to meets. English asked whether participation fees cover transportation; the superintendent replied that fees “are used to supplement the cost of supplemental coaches' salaries and transportation” but do not cover the full cost of running programs.
Sievers described how other districts have established cutoffs—for example, not providing buses for events that leave before 4:30 p.m.—and said Lebanon’s priority is getting students home from school. He warned that promising buses and then canceling creates liability risks and urged coaches and families to plan for alternative arrangements when possible.
On coach reimbursement, the district said it will reimburse mileage and suggested staff try to carpool or use district vans when available. Sievers said the athletic department and administrators are working daily to find options and that some sports (junior high track was cited) are likely to be more affected because meets start earlier in the afternoon.
The board did not vote on a new transportation policy at the March 17 meeting. Administrators said they will continue to coordinate with the athletic director and coaches and to communicate updates to families as they develop.
