Shelby County Schools plans double bus runs, urges parents to use StopFinder as driver shortage persists
Summary
Superintendent and transportation staff said in the July 2025 superintendent report that the district faces a shortage of bus drivers, temporarily requiring 14 double runs and adjustments to routes; the district is using the StopFinder/Skyliner app and printed notices to notify families.
Shelby County Schools announced in its July 2025 superintendent report that the district expects morning and afternoon “double runs” on some routes this fall because of a bus driver shortage and is urging families to use a real-time routing app and expect possible schedule adjustments.
Manny Stone, transportation staff, told the board, “we are gonna get those kids to and from school safely,” and said the district absorbed four routes over the summer and currently plans 14 double runs for AM and PM schedules. Stone said the district has 49 full-time drivers, four driver trainers, two substitute drivers, two mechanics and four applicants “in the pipeline.”
Superintendent said the district has increased pay and the board provided incentives to recruit retired drivers back. “We have upped the pay. Our board of education has been magnificent in giving some incentives for retired, bus drivers to come back,” the superintendent said during the report.
To notify families of route changes, the district is promoting StopFinder (the Skyliner app). Stone said, “It actually is going very well. We have 1,292 active subscribers on StopFinder.” He described features that send push notifications and geo-alerts when buses approach a stop.
District staff warned that exact arrival times likely will change once routes run with students in place. Stone said adjustments will be made after the first three days of school and staff will reassess stops and times then. He told the board the district plans to send notes home with students and make phone calls for families who cannot use the app: “we send notes on with the parent with the students, and we'll make those phone calls and let those parents know that that time has changed.”
Stone said the district was covered for the first three days of school but needs additional drivers to dissolve double runs and return to single-route assignments. The superintendent and staff emphasized safety as the top priority while they continue recruiting.
Parents and guardians should expect some route and time changes in the first days of school; the district will use StopFinder, printed notices and direct phone calls to communicate updates.
