Bus driver shortage is causing some pickup and drop-off delays in Erie School District
Erie School District has 28 school bus routes and only 26 drivers.
And that means that some students are waiting between 20 minutes and an hour to board a bus to school or to go home after classes.
"It's an unfortunate situation, but families have been very understanding," said Neal Brokman, assistant schools superintendent.
Parents were notified earlier this week of possible bus delays. They are notified again if their child's bus will be late.
Three district bus drivers passed away this school year. Others have quit. And school officials are scrambling to cover their routes.
The district's transportation supervisor is driving daily. And as drivers finish their routes, they're sent out again to drive part of another.
"As soon as a driver is done, we send that driver out to take a portion of a second route. When the next bus comes in, that driver is sent out to get the next portion of the route," Brokman said. "It takes less time to have two drivers do a route than it does to send one driver for another entire route."
Ideally, the district would employ 35 drivers for the 28 routes. The extra drivers would be available to substitute for drivers who call in sick. Those not needed behind the wheel would be assigned other work in the district.
"It could be cutting the grass or moving things between buildings," Brokman said. "There is other labor that they can do."
Bus drivers in the Erie School District are full-time district employees and earn district salaries and benefits.
School officials hope to hire more drivers this spring.
"It's the only solution to the problems we're having," Brokman said.
How to become an Erie school bus driver
Would-be drivers can call the district's human resources office at 814-874-6080 for information. Drivers must have a commercial driver's license and pass required background checks.
The district will train prospects that don't already have a commercial license. The district employs two certified CDL trainers.
It's not a quick process. It generally takes three to six months to complete required classroom and on-the-road training. Drivers hired this spring would be ready to drive sometime this fall.
About 2,200 Erie students ride district buses this school year.
Driver shortage a national issue
Erie isn't alone in needing bus drivers. School districts nationwide are struggling to fill vacancies.
The Philadelphia School District this year is paying parents as much as $300 a month to take their children to and from school, also because of a shortage of bus drivers.
Students in three secondary schools in the West Shore School District, near Harrisburg, learned remotely for a time in September because of a driver shortage.
In Millcreek earlier this year: Bus driver shortage prompts new look at how students get to and from school
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Some Erie PA School District students are waiting longer for their bus
