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Superintendent cites bus driver shortages, outlines van use plan and safety measures
Summary
Superintendent told the board the district had experienced extended bus delays tied to driver illness, described the April 2024 van purchase for athletics and family support, said a dedicated driver hire was unsuccessful, and said staff will use a guarded checkout process with GPS and cameras until policy is set.
In the superintendent’s report, the superintendent said the district had “experienced some extended delays due to driver illness” over the prior two weeks and apologized to families for the disruptions. The district is working to reduce delays and improve communication with parents.
The superintendent explained the district purchased a van in April 2024 to support small athletic-team transportation and to assist homeless families with travel to and from school. The district posted the van-driver position in August 2024 but has not found a candidate the team judged ideal; as a result, staff set up an internal checkout process to allow active employees to use the van temporarily.
To address safety and tracking concerns for the van, the district purchased GPS tracking and camera equipment—described as the same setup used on district buses—and operations finalized a van checkout process. Human Resources is developing onboarding and training for employees who will be authorized to check out the van; the superintendent said board policy will need to be developed to formalize use rules.
The superintendent also highlighted student activities and community events: athletic program growth (the wrestling program was reported at 19 participants), senior athletes considering returning for an additional year, and a named student, Kyle Kaine, who took sixth place in a recent wrestling tournament. The superintendent noted upcoming calendar items: no school on Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Day activities and a Gleaners Mobile Food Distribution scheduled for Feb. 6 at Eastpointe Middle School.
The superintendent praised principals, instructional coaches and teachers for their participation in a national conference and said professors at the University of Virginia personally complimented the district’s team for its quality and dedication.
The transcript records these updates as part of the superintendent’s report; staff signaled follow-up work on formal board policy for van use and continued onboarding for new board members.
