WESTBROOK (WGME) — They’re critical for getting kids to school, but a shortage of bus drivers has put families and districts in a pinch in recent years.
Classes for many students start in just a couple of weeks, and some districts still are hoping to fill these positions.
Westbrook has bus driver openings right now.
“Some of the positions have been open for a while, not just for the months over the summer,” Westbrook School Department Superintendent Peter Lancia said.
Lancia says people can start as van drivers, which doesn’t require a special license, while learning about potential next steps.
“So if they’ve never driven a school bus or they are studying for their CDL license, we’ll hire them and train them,” Lancia said.
Other districts do the same.
Over in western Maine, MSAD 72 has found success by offering bonuses and paid health insurance.
“We’ve had three or four new hires which will give us a surplus of drivers,” MSAD 72 Superintendent Jay Robinson said.
MSAD 6, the Bonny Eagle school district, also finds itself in a good spot for now.
“We have all our routes covered. We can always use spares,” MSAD 6 Superintendent Clay Gleason said.
The search for more bus drivers never really stops for school districts because circumstances can quickly change.
“If a driver that you have calls in sick and you have no subs, it really puts families in a tough position,” Robinson said.
“Historically, we’ve never had to cancel a route at all,” Lancia said.
Lancia says they may have to double up in some cases.
“A bus drives to a neighborhood, takes one group of kids to school and then goes back to pick up another group of kids to school,” Lancia said.
It could delay arrivals, but that’s what they’d do, look at adjusting routes if a driver was absent or they’re not able to fill a position.
CBS13 Reporter Mal Meyer: “At this point though, do you have to rely on those contingency plans, or not quite yet?”Lancia: “We’re still looking at routes.”
The Westbrook School Department expects to share those early next week so families can start planning.
If you have an education story you’d like us to investigate, call our Crisis in the Classroom tipline. The number is (207) 200-3380.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66bfccd1a75840a0879cf8c28a606b11&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwgme.com%2Fnews%2Fcrisis-in-the-classroom%2Fschool-bus-driver-shortage-districts-crisis-in-the-classroom-westbrook-maine&c=16115625630002092260&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-08-16 05:48:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.