Board approves personnel slate as district addresses bus-driver retirements and hiring pipeline

Lebanon City Schools’ board on May 19 approved personnel consent items covering retirements, resignations, new hires, substitutes and volunteers as the district continues to recruit bus drivers for the next school year.

Why it matters: transportation staffing affects daily operations and student access to school; administrators warned that an aging driver workforce will require sustained recruitment efforts.

The personnel slate (items a–l) passed on a unanimous roll-call vote of board members present. Board members read a consolidated personnel list that included retirements and a number of new hires pending background checks.

“We think we have maybe 11 either retirements or resignations heading into next school year,” a staff presenter said, describing the driver workforce as an older population and predicting ongoing hiring needs. The board heard there are five or six candidates in training who may be available to convert to regular routes, but that the district will likely continue advertising for bus drivers throughout the year.

Administrators noted the nature of bus work—split morning and afternoon hours—can make it difficult for applicants to combine the role with other employment. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding allowing bus drivers to attend professional development (Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation) and to flex a summer day for a professional day during the school year.

The personnel packet also included supplemental assignments, nonlicensed coaches, tutors (pending FBI/BCI checks), volunteer lists and leaves of absence. The motion to approve the personnel items was moved and seconded and carried by roll call.