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Long‑time district transportation employee says bus staffing is 'in crisis'
Summary
A district transportation employee and bargaining team member told the board the department is severely understaffed, citing underpaid dispatchers, high rates of driver absences, heavy substitute use, and unsafe workload strains; she urged higher pay, more staff and clear prioritization of routes.
Victoria Lucas, who the board identified as a long‑time district employee and bargaining team member, told trustees that Mukilteo’s transportation department is "in crisis" and urged immediate action from the board.
Lucas said she has worked as a bus driver, dispatcher and routing specialist for nearly 18 years and described chronic understaffing: about a quarter of drivers are unavailable on any given day due to leave or illness, substitutes are fully used and many long‑term routes leave no backup coverage. "There's no cushion and no margin for error," she said, and added that staff routinely work through lunches, come in early and stay late to cover routes.
She said pay for dispatchers and routing staff lags neighboring districts and that staffing shortages are forcing the department to stretch resources to cover field trips and routine routes. "We need increased staffing, competitive wages, and realistic expectations that reflect the current conditions," Lucas told the board. She asked the board to prioritize safe transport to and from school.
President Kennedy thanked Lucas for her comments and told the public the board takes remarks seriously and will respond in writing as appropriate. The comment was made during the public‑comment period; no board action was taken at the meeting.
