Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mid Columbia Bus outlines driver staffing, behavior and safety work for North Bend routes
Summary
Mid Columbia Bus told the North Bend School District board it has recruited drivers but continues to face turnover and student behavior challenges; the company plans training, an independent safety audit and outreach to campus administrators.
Mid Columbia Bus representatives briefed the North Bend School District board on driver staffing, student behavior and safety improvements, saying the contractor has recruited new drivers but remains understaffed and is implementing training and audits to improve operations.
Brian Schilberg, regional vice president for Mid Columbia Bus, said the company hired 12 drivers this year and lost 13, and that it certified an additional driver the day before the meeting. The company is actively recruiting and will attend a local job fair at the Coos Bay Library on April 25.
Schilberg described student behavior and parent interactions as growing challenges since the pandemic. He said the contractor is delivering additional training for drivers and monitors focused on de-escalation, interrupting disruptive behavior without escalating it, and bullying and harassment recognition. Schilberg said the company also has emphasized improved communication with campus administrators and parents and is encouraging drivers to document incidents and follow up so administrators can respond.
Mid Columbia Bus reported it sent a 10-question parent survey to gather feedback on punctuality, safety and communications. The company said the survey returned both positive feedback — naming drivers who performed exceptionally — and areas for improvement that will inform action plans.
On safety oversight, Schilberg said the company will bring in an independent auditor this summer to review vehicle safety, driver files and the company’s safety program across several Western Oregon operations; the contractor expects the audit to cover a subset of local sites and to inform company-wide changes. He also said the company runs an annual managers’ workshop and will bring in a customer-service trainer to share practices with frontline staff.
Schilberg said some incidents involve parents attempting to board buses; he noted that, absent a prearranged and vetted visit, parents are not permitted to enter buses and drivers should de-escalate those encounters and refer the matter to school administrators.
Board members had no formal vote on the presentation. Mid Columbia Bus representatives invited district staff and principals to collaborate on site-specific responses and follow-up.
