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Littlestown board discusses bus driver shortage and contractor costs as driver resignations continue
Summary
Board members said the district is down to five bus drivers and is relying on six contractors from Lincoln Intermediate. Directors discussed low pay, unemployment rules that hamper retention, and contractor day rates around $300.
Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing persistent transportation staffing problems: the district is operating with a small roster of bus drivers and is relying on outside contractors to fill routes.
Speaker 2 raised the issue, saying the district was "down to 5 bus drivers" and was using six drivers from Lincoln Intermediate. Board members attributed turnover to pay and benefit differences with competing employers. One board member said competitors pay substantially more and noted that contractors may be paid around $300 per day, which gets split with cooperating entities; those higher day rates make retention difficult for the district’s regular staff.
Members also discussed how the district’s work calendar and unemployment rules affect the effective take-home pay for drivers. Speaker 1 and others described that district drivers are on contracts tied to the school year and cannot claim unemployment during breaks, while some private employers or contractors offer income continuity that can be more attractive. The board discussed possible remedies but noted there is no simple, immediate fix.
No formal motion to change compensation was recorded during this discussion; the item remained a topic for further consideration and potential follow-up by district staff.
