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Superintendent: Board approves wage agreement with OSEA after bus driver shortages left district 'with no subs'
Summary
The Solon Board of Education on May 11 approved a letter of agreement with OSEA Local 475 to adjust bus driver wages after the superintendent reported multiple recent driver departures and no substitute drivers remaining; the district also announced a May 16 recruitment event at Parkside Elementary.
The Solon Board of Education on May 11 approved a letter of agreement with OSEA Local 475 that will let the district raise bus driver pay beginning with the new fiscal year to address an acute staffing shortage.
Under the superintendent's report, district leadership said recruiting and retention problems left the district "with no subs," forcing route consolidations and raising concerns about reliably transporting students. The superintendent said of recent hires: "Of those eight drivers that we lost, six of those drivers left because of their wages." The board voted to approve the letter of agreement to make wage‑schedule adjustments agreed with the union.
District leaders described a two‑part response: short‑term wage adjustments under the OSEA agreement and active recruitment. Officials announced a "drive the bus" event at Parkside Elementary on May 16, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., aimed at attracting applicants; the superintendent said the district now offers "flexible hours, paid training, full‑time benefits, and our pay is more competitive than it's ever been."
Board members framed the agreement as a necessary step to restore operational stability: if routes cannot be staffed, officials said, it will be harder for students to attend school and learning will be disrupted. The superintendent told the board the changes will be implemented with the start of the district's new fiscal year.
The vote to approve the letter of agreement passed by roll call.
