Bossier Parish transportation director reports driver shortages, absenteeism and fleet status
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Summary
Director Aaron McGee told the Bossier Parish School Board Transportation Committee that absenteeism among bus drivers is the department’s biggest operational challenge, and provided fleet and staffing figures as officials consider bus purchases.
Aaron McGee, director of transportation for Bossier Parish, told the Parish School Board Transportation Committee that driver absenteeism and an aging fleet are the department’s top challenges as it carries students to and from school.
McGee reported the department ran 426 field trips as of the day before the meeting and now operates 223 daily routes that transport about 13,259 students each school day. He said the department currently employs 190 full-time bus operators, with 13 routes staffed by activity drivers and six routes covered by long-term substitutes. McGee said the department has held two driver training classes this year with 37 trainees; seven of those trainees are driving now and 14 others are still progressing through training.
“That’s our number one priority. And they have to help us out with this,” McGee said, describing the strain on regular drivers who must cover other routes when colleagues are absent.
McGee said absenteeism has forced the department to implement emergency routing plans 173 times this year, involving 139 drivers; 11 drivers have covered extra runs more than 10 times, and one driver had covered other routes on 38 different days. McGee said the department covers most absences with internal ER plans rather than outside substitutes because there are not enough available substitute drivers.
The department’s maintenance shop is fully staffed, McGee said, and the parish recently purchased a larger service truck to perform on-site repairs and repurposed an older truck for tire service to reduce downtime following tire failures. Shop foreman Mark Fielding joined McGee at the meeting and was offered by McGee as the point person for mechanical questions.
McGee also highlighted personnel changes and training. The department hired Coach Trey Wynn to coordinate field trips and serve as a facilitator. Marcus McElveen, previously a driver and a “gold star winner,” was moved into a front-office router position, and Chuck McBee was hired as a full-time router. McGee said Shelly Chamberlain was selected by the State of Louisiana as one of nine master instructors for CDL training and will train other CDL instructors.
McGee described community partnerships that reuse retired buses. He said the department provided three deleted buses to the Bossier City Fire Department in exchange for training services for students in fire classes; the firefighters will use the buses for vehicle-extrication and evacuation drills.
Superintendent Roland and committee members said they were concerned about the absenteeism figures and offered their willingness to help. Committee members raised operational concerns, including longer ride times and confusion for parents when routes are combined during ER plans.
McGee noted that the parish recently learned it must have AB-trained fuel tank operators on site and that he and Fielding became certified to avoid fines. He said the department is seeking suggestions from drivers and the community for ways to reduce absenteeism and make the job more attractive.
The information was presented as background before the committee considered proposals for bus purchases funded from the fiscal year 2027 general fund.
Ending: McGee told the committee the department will continue recruiting and training and will seek operational changes to reduce the burden on existing drivers while the board considers funding for new, air-conditioned buses to address driver working conditions and fleet reliability.
