Yelm schools cite bus-driver shortage, cancellations and route-rotation rules

YELM — During a May 5 joint study session, Yelm school leaders described ongoing transportation problems driven by a shortage of bus drivers, training constraints and contractual obligations that have forced periodic route cancellations.

Superintendent Chris Wood and district staff said the district cannot hire or train drivers fast enough to meet demand. ‘‘We cannot hire enough bus drivers to drive our buses,’’ Wood said, citing regional competition for drivers, the time required to obtain CDLs and the loss of extracurricular-route pay that previously supplemented base wages.

Staff explained that the district must prioritize students with special needs for transportation and follow collective-bargaining agreements when reassigning drivers; to reduce repeated cancellations on the same route, the district now rotates driver assignments so consistent drivers sometimes cover other routes. Wood said the district has trainers and drivers in the pipeline but that the training timeline and staffing choices sometimes force cancellations.

Why it matters: Route cancellations affect families’ access to school and create logistical burdens, particularly for households that cannot provide alternate transportation. District staff said adding walk-route infrastructure (sidewalks and shared-use paths) is one way to reduce pressure on bus routes for elementary students.

What’s next: The district is pursuing hiring and training for additional drivers, rotating cancellations to spread impacts and coordinating with the city on walk-route improvements; no policy or contract changes were adopted at the session.

Attribution: On-the-record comments from Superintendent Chris Wood and other district staff at the May 5 joint study session.