Yakima School District cites driver shortages, plans 4‑bell schedule and electric-bus purchases to improve service
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Summary
The district reported a driver shortage limiting operations to about 57 routes on a two‑bell schedule and outlined a proposed four‑bell model to reduce simultaneous routes, cut transfers and make better use of a smaller driver pool; staff also described grant-funded electric-bus purchases and monitoring plans.
Art Rodriguez, the district’s Director of Transportation, told the Yakima School District Board that staffing and fleet constraints are driving operational changes, including a proposal to move from a two‑bell to a four‑bell schedule.
Rodriguez said the district currently operates roughly 57 routes with 66 drivers on staff (the district is funded for 68), and that days with multiple absences leave the department stretched. "We are always on the verge of being short," he said, describing a season‑by‑season fluctuation in drivers and route coverage.
The proposed four‑bell system would stagger high‑school, middle‑school and two elementary start times so that fewer buses operate simultaneously. Rodriguez said the change would reduce the number of buses running at any one time to about 25–30 routes, which would decrease transfer routes and shorten ride times for many elementary students. Board members asked whether families had been notified; staff said bell times will be finalized after routing analysis and stakeholder review, with potential public sharing in mid to late March.
On the fleet, Rodriguez and finance staff described the district’s mix of vehicle types and an ongoing, grant‑backed move toward electrification. The presentation listed a total fleet of about 77 buses (a mix of larger HDX models and smaller C2 vehicles), with three electric buses currently in operation and three more expected in the next month. A district presenter summarized cost differences quoted from state sources: an electric bus near $375,000 versus roughly $200,000 for a diesel model, and said the district is pursuing state grants to purchase electric buses and necessary charging infrastructure.
Rodriguez described cross‑training mechanics and vendor warranty support as part of the near‑term maintenance approach and said the district will monitor electric bus performance in both cold and hot weather. "We are getting also 3 more buses electric, in the next month, and we'll be able to get more data then for us," he said.
Next steps include finalizing bell times after routing tests, continuing driver recruitment and training (which can take up to two months for drivers without a CDL), and tracking the operational performance and total-cost data for electric buses as additional vehicles and infrastructure come online.