Muscogee County schools report 23% bus-driver vacancy; district outlines operational changes
Summary
Chief operations officer Travis Anderson told the board the district is operating with a 23% bus-driver vacancy rate, leading to longer routes, earlier stop times and changes to field-trip and athletics support; the district said it offers paid CDL training and is actively hiring.
Travis Anderson, the Muscogee County School District chief operations officer, told the school board on Nov. 17 that the district is contending with a 23% bus-driver vacancy rate and related operational strains.
"We currently have a 23% vacancy rate with our bus drivers," Anderson said, adding the national driver shortage and local absenteeism have forced the district to lengthen routes, start some stops earlier and delay nonessential bus uses such as field-trip support until morning student delivery is complete. Anderson said the district's published hourly rate for drivers is $19.44.
Anderson described several concrete effects: combined magnet and ESOL routes where possible, more aggressive removal of inactive stops, altered field-trip scheduling so all buses focus on morning delivery first, and changes to transportation for athletics so students are not left on campus following long delays. "Our longest high school bus route is 122 minutes," he said, noting the district implemented a three-tier start-time system to reduce pressure on drivers and students.
Board members asked about full-time hours and substitute pay. Anderson said that while full-time status on paper is 35 hours, many drivers are working 40 hours or more due to shortages; he said substitute drivers are paid the same hourly rate and that the district provides paid CDL training for applicants who do not arrive with a license. "We provide paid training," he said.
Anderson also described absenteeism among drivers as a significant multiplier of disruption, saying the district averages about 13 driver absences per day and does not currently maintain a substitute pool. That absenteeism forces what he characterized as cascading impacts: "1 absent bus driver impacts 5 to 8 bus routes." The district said it pays outside counties to train drivers at its facility and offers a referral bonus to employees who recommend new drivers who complete training.
Superintendent David Lewis introduced the update and said the district continues to recruit and adjust operations with safety and consistency in mind. The district emphasized it is still hiring for full-time, part-time and substitute positions and urged community members to refer candidates.
The presentation concluded with a discussion of partnership opportunities with the city to add sidewalks and traffic-control measures so some schools can be served by walk zones rather than bus routes. The board did not take formal action during the presentation.
