Transportation update: Rockwood reports bus staffing gains, fleet additions and plans for more air-conditioned buses

District transportation staff provided a comprehensive update on routes, staffing and fleet refresh plans, saying ridership and staffing are improving while some buses remain crowded on longer routes.

Mike Cayman, who presented the update, said 11,447 students are registered for transportation and the district currently runs 93 regular home-to-school routes. Cayman reported the district added 13 new Bluebird buses this summer (with larger passenger capacities) and plans to purchase about 15 buses next summer to continue fleet replacement and increase the number of air-conditioned buses.

On staffing, Cayman said the department currently has 99 regular school bus drivers, seven substitute drivers and a pool of certified coaches for athletic trips; eight drivers retired over the summer and about 15 applicants were hired and trained. “This was our best recruiting year since 2018,” he said.

Board members asked about the method for assigning air-conditioned buses and requested a more data-driven approach next year. Cindy Boggess (department staff) said the current priority is to assign air-conditioned buses to the longest routes and routes with the most students, accommodate ADA needs, and plan adjustments for next year's assignments using route data rather than only experiential knowledge.

Cayman and board members also discussed long-range planning for fleet purchases, spare buses and what an optimal number of routes would look like if staffing allowed expansion. The presentation concluded with board appreciation for drivers and maintenance staff; the meeting then moved on to future agenda items and adjourned.