South San Antonio ISD bus drivers warn of staffing shortages, safety and air-conditioning problems

A South San Antonio ISD bus driver told the board Sept. 15 the district's transportation department is severely understaffed, leaving drivers without adequate on-route support and forcing mechanics and office staff to cover routes.

"Currently, we have 1 director, a secretary who also handles payroll, 1 field trip specialist who doubles as a dispatcher and a supervisor, and 1 trainer," said Maylene Elias, a district bus driver speaking during the public-comment period. "We don't have a designated supervisor, dispatcher, router, or someone assigned to solely handle contact reports."

Elias said the staffing shortage frequently delays routes, causes students to arrive late to school and leaves drivers handling sensitive incidents without timely backup. She told the board that drivers often operate without bus aids and that serious incidents have occurred, including a student being hit and another exposing themselves on a bus. She said one driver cannot safely both drive and manage the conduct of 40 students.

Elias also reported prolonged equipment problems: she said many buses ran without working air conditioning during the prior school year, leading to student nausea and nosebleeds in extreme heat because mechanics were pulled to run routes. "Only 1 of our 2 mechanics is certified to fix ACs," she said.

"Safety concerns don't stop there," Elias said. She urged the board to consider increased staffing and more bus aides so drivers have support for student safety and incident reporting.

Superintendent Dr. Hinojosa acknowledged the concerns and said the district is aware of transportation challenges; board members asked staff to follow up. Elias thanked the board for the opportunity to speak.

The board did not take immediate action during the meeting; trustees signaled they expected administration to report back with options to address staffing and equipment reliability.