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RSU 12 board hears that a bus driver shortage is disrupting routes and moves to explore subcontracting
Summary
At an RSU 12 board meeting, members were told long rural routes, retirements and a thin pool of substitutes have left towns like Westport Island and Alna with missed runs. The board voted to let the superintendent research contracting and stepped-up recruitment.
At a regularly scheduled RSU 12 school board meeting, members were warned that a shortage of licensed school bus drivers has forced missed routes and unpredictable service in several towns, and they voted to let the superintendent research subcontracting and recruitment options.
The superintendent told the board that Westport Island and Alna have been particularly strained by long runs and the retirement or absence of local drivers, and said, “if you want to call it a crisis, were in a little bit of a crisis.” The presentation described days when buses were missed, late morning alerts arrived too close to school start times for families to arrange alternatives, and longtime substitute drivers were unavailable.
Board members discussed the districts reliance on retired staff, regionally based subs and teachers who fill in in emergencies. The district explained the current training pathway: a paid multi-week course (weekend sessions), about 10 supervised driving hours, a physical and fingerprinting checks, and issuance of a commercial-style license. Speakers said the process can take several months and that regional demand for drivers is high.
On pay and recruitment, presenters said the districts starting pay ranged around $22 per hour with top rates near $30; neighboring districts have advertised $25 per hour or higher. The board was told that while pay is important, licensing barriers and an aging driver pool are also constraining hiring.
As an immediate step, the board moved and seconded a motion to charge the superintendent with researching subcontracting transportation services, including contracting with private carriers or other districts, and to return with options and budget implications. A presenter cautioned that contracting would likely increase budget costs but could create a more reliable longer-term solution.
Next steps: the superintendent will report back with findings on contracting feasibility, potential vendors and estimated budget impacts. The board also discussed stepped-up advertising, offering paid training, and targeted outreach to retirees and parents as short-term measures.
