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Poquoson plans driver pay increases and incentives after staffing shortfalls left one regional run unserved
Summary
Operations staff reported a persistent bus driver shortage and proposed higher run rates, a minimum run pay bump and other incentives to recruit and retain drivers; staff said the division currently has 12 full‑time drivers and had briefly started the year with 16.
Poquoson City Public Schools operations staff outlined a suite of pay and recruitment changes intended to address an ongoing bus driver shortage that forced the division to cancel one regional transportation run earlier in the school year.
“Currently, we have 12 full time train drivers,” Mr. Roberts said during the Feb. 18 operations update, describing the division’s fleet staffing and recent hiring. He noted the division began the 2023–24 year with 16 full‑time drivers and that the headcount had dipped as drivers left or moved to part‑time roles.
What the division proposes: Mr. Roberts summarized multiple targeted changes to pay and incentives. Measures detailed in the presentation included a proposed $3 per‑hour increase for drivers and aides, a raised minimum run pay from $13.59 to $18.32 (equating to about $23/hour when converted to an hourly equivalent), a $4/hour increase to field trip run rates, increases to long‑distance trip pay, a higher summer‑school run rate ($30.75 proposed), continued payment for “sleep time” on multi‑day trips, and maintenance of combined‑run and double‑run pay rates. The presentation estimated the bus‑driver package would cost roughly $88,114 annually.
Board context and recruiting: Roberts described steady operational effort to recruit drivers, including participation in college career fairs and the roll‑out of GPS hardware and a parent app. He said March 5 was scheduled for bus driver and aide training on the GPS Wayfinder software and the parent app pilot. “That will be primarily based on the GPS software … we’re on a great track right now,” he said.
Impact and scale: Roberts said the division was able to cover every run except one day when limited staff forced the decision to not transport regional program students; principals notified families and the students were excused. Board members who spoke in the meeting emphasized the local consequences of driver shortages and welcomed the proposed pay package as a priority for retaining staff and avoiding future service disruptions.
Ending: Staff and the CFO said the bus‑driver package is included in the superintendent’s FY26 request to the city; the board said it would consider the full budget at upcoming work sessions and the March public hearing.
