School bus contractor outlines staffing, route fixes as parent describes child left at wrong stop

Summary

First Student briefed the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board on driver staffing, route changes and early‑season loading problems; a parent later told the board his 6‑year‑old was left at the wrong daycare and walked alone 1.6 miles. Board members asked for complaint forms and follow‑up.

Ketchikan — First Student’s local manager told the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education on Sept. 24 that driver shortages, route restructures and early‑season rider changes caused late buses and some overloads early in the school year, and that the contractor is recruiting drivers and adjusting stop assignments to reduce problems.

Michael Johnson, First Student location manager, described steps the company has taken since late summer: streamlining CDL testing access for applicants, raising pay for drivers and attendants, consolidating routes to an all‑island coverage model and expanding service into the West End to reduce long walks to stops. “We have gotten some great traction … we have had a lot of successes,” Johnson said, noting one candidate was traveling to Juneau for testing because local examiners are not available.

The company also described operational changes that…

School bus contractor outlines staffing, route fixes as parent describes child left at wrong stop

Summary

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