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District warns long bus routes and driver shortages could limit route expansion
Summary
Transportation staff said Lake of the Woods will run the same six routes this year, is short on substitutes and faces multi-month licensing timelines for Class B school bus drivers; some student rides exceed state averages for duration, and district staff said recruiting remains the main constraint.
At the Aug. 25 working session, transportation staff told the Lake of the Woods School Board the district will run the same six routes as last year and is currently staffed for those routes but needs one or two substitutes to maintain schedules and extra trips.
Staff said some routes are long — in past years district runs sometimes exceeded an hour each way — and that securing substitute drivers is difficult because many former subs no longer hold commercial licenses. Obtaining a Class B school bus license was described as a multi-month process, typically taking about three months when everything proceeds smoothly.
Board members and staff discussed workarounds and state restrictions. Staff said state rules restrict using 13-passenger vans for regular routes; designated routes require vehicles classified and equipped as school buses (mini buses may be permitted if appropriately designated). The board considered using mini buses where legal and feasible, but noted driver licensing and safety rules limit quick fixes.
Transportation staff said they will continue outreach to retired or former subs and explore recruitment incentives; staff asked the board for support in outreach and for flexibility where permissible to reduce student ride times.
No policy changes were enacted at the session; transportation staff said they will report back on recruitment progress and substitute coverage plans.
