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Baldwin-Whitehall reports daily bus cancellations amid driver and attendant shortages
Summary
District officials said school transportation faced daily cancellations, citing absent drivers and attendants, a mechanic on medical leave, a recent failed drug test, and difficulty recruiting new CDL drivers. The district is exploring subcontracting runs to First Student and other options.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District officials reported persistent transportation problems during the meeting, saying the district experienced at least one bus cancellation nearly every day this week because of shortages of drivers and attendants.
“Transportation is struggling, meeting the needs of every student,” said Mark Cherpak, presenting the business and finance report. “I think every day this week, we've had at least one bus canceled. We have folks that are sick. We have folks that are out on leave.”
Cherpak and district staff described multiple contributing factors: driver and attendant absenteeism linked to illness, at least one driver who failed a drug test and is temporarily unable to drive until a required return-to-duty program is completed, and a mechanic who will be out approximately six weeks. Administrators said the district currently has only a small pool of mechanics and drivers available and that it has not held a new training class for prospective drivers in several months.
The district has had to cancel a special-education run when two attendants called off and no replacement was available. Officials said the district is attempting to expand its relationship with First Student — a private contractor that transports some out-of-district students — to see if First Student can take on additional in-district runs. “We're gonna try to expand that relationship to include having them do parts of our school,” Cherpak said.
Board members discussed other options, including issuing a new request for proposals for contractors and possible creative scheduling changes. Several board members urged the administration to pursue multiple strategies because the district is not seeing new applicants for driving positions. “We haven't had a new class probably in 3 months, 4 months. So there's nobody coming on board,” Cherpak said. He added that one recent resignation further reduced staffing.
Cherpak provided pay rates captured in the meeting: driver step 1 $24.02 per hour, step 2 $26.91, and step 3 $30.37; benefits are available only to those who average about 35 hours per week. Staff explained typical daily hours can range from roughly 5½ to 8 hours depending on the run, with midday layover periods between morning and afternoon routes.
Transportation staff said they are using internal recruitment and outreach to existing staff and exploring expanding contracted runs to reduce cancellations. The board asked administration to report back with options for recruitment and contracting and to consider any budgetary implications.
No formal board action was taken; the discussion was recorded as part of the business and finance report.
