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Transportation ready for start of year; district cites difficulty hiring mechanics, targets propane for future buses
Summary
Sunnyside officials said bus routes were adjusted and staff secured fueling and new vehicles; the district reported several mechanic vacancies and said infrastructure limits currently prevent switching to propane buses this year.
Transportation staff told the governing board they resized routes over the summer to balance loads, eliminated routes with minimal ridership, and said the district will have drivers and attendants in place to cover routes at the start of the year.
Facilities staff reported securing a functional fuel-management system to ensure school buses can pump fuel without interruption. The district said it is processing orders for three new school buses and one 14‑passenger minibus and hopes to take delivery before fall break.
District staff reported ongoing staffing challenges in transportation: three bus driver vacancies, one bus attendant vacancy, one mechanic‑assistant vacancy and four open bus‑mechanic positions; two bus drivers were on FMLA at the time of the meeting. Officials said no drivers lost jobs as a result of route adjustments and that AC and cameras are operational on buses.
When asked whether new buses would be electric or diesel, staff said the district considered propane but lacks the required propane infrastructure (tank) this year and is targeting propane infrastructure next year. Board members discussed wage competitiveness for mechanics; facilities staff said district pay is generally lower than private industry (roughly $20–$22 an hour for less-experienced mechanics, with private-sector wages “into the thirties and forties”), which complicates recruitment.
Officials said they expect to cover all routes at the start of the year and described efforts to hire additional drivers and attendants.
