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Transportation director reports 65‑employee fleet operation; 125,000 miles driven since August
Summary
District transportation director briefed the board on staffing counts, routes, ridership and delayed bus deliveries tied to manufacturing delays in the Carolinas.
Siloam Springs School District’s transportation department reported to the board that the department employs 65 staff members, operates 39 routes and has driven roughly 125,000 miles since Aug. 14, district officials said.
The district’s transportation presenter said the department has 44 drivers (11 of whom work in other district roles), 10 bus aids, six crossing guards and additional support staff and technicians. He said eight employees achieved perfect attendance this fall and named them during the meeting.
On ridership the presenter said morning (AM) ridership runs at about 1,500 riders per day; the transcripted PM figure was unclear. The presenter reported the total number of student trips recorded since Aug. 14 as about 269,000 and said the district currently operates 39 routes (most AM/PM regular routes and one PM‑only shuttle to the Boys & Girls Club). He also said the district added a fifth special‑needs route this fall and returned a recently rehired driver, Ken Bollinger, to that route.
The presenter explained delays in new bus deliveries: two buses ordered earlier were expected in September but were delayed because frame and body work was affected by hurricanes in North and South Carolina; the vendor now estimates delivery in mid‑February. The department has put out bids for buses for the 2025–26 school year, with responses due Jan. 8, the presenter said.
The presenter listed the district’s oldest sub buses as 1993 models and said the district is undergoing state inspections. He gave a district size figure of 154 square miles to illustrate transportation logistics.
A board member asked about four open positions in the department; the presenter said three openings are PM‑only runs and one is AM/PM. The presenter described the department’s reliance on substitutes, coaches and other staff when regular drivers are unavailable.
Ending: No board action was taken; the presentation was received as a report.
