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Colonel Hadden briefs transportation committee on staffing, maintenance and fleet successes amid driver shortages
Summary
Colonel Hadden presented a state-of-the-department briefing covering staff highlights, bus-driver shortages, routing and maintenance improvements, Medicaid reimbursement gains and fleet upgrades; no formal action was taken.
Colonel Hadden delivered an extensive state-of-the-department briefing to the transportation committee, highlighting staff roles, fleet maintenance practices, driver shortages and recent fleet upgrades.
Hadden praised staff members by name and role, including Teresa Giles (HR/payroll and third-party Office of Motor Vehicle Examiner), Lori (special education reimbursements), Ray Ryman (routing software) and Mark (maintenance lead). He credited staff efforts with generating Medicaid reimbursements (described as about $168,000 a year) and with preventive maintenance and recall work that led manufacturers to replace engines on some buses at the company's expense.
Hadden outlined staffing and fleet numbers: roughly 98 bus drivers on staff, with a reported need of about 212 drivers to meet ideal staffing levels; 43 bus aides and 35 SPED drivers; and a decline in buses from about 314 to 294 over time. He told the committee that student riders have remained roughly 59—60 percent of total student population and that many drivers now run two routes a day. Hadden said only about 25 of 270 routes exceed 90 minutes.
He described maintenance practices that save money (scavenging parts, targeted engine replacements and working with manufacturers on recalls) and cited an estimated engine replacement value of about $27,000 per engine. Hadden also noted the district's acquisition of upgraded buses (MSAABs) for large trips and extracurricular travel and thanked staff for keeping the department under budget despite labor shortages.
Hadden asked the board to consider compensation adjustments for field trips and extra runs, noting prior field-trip pay levels and urging attention to recruitment and retention; he left further personnel and compensation actions to the superintendent and the new transportation leadership. The presentation drew no formal motions; the committee thanked Hadden and moved on to its regular meeting.
