11/6/2023 0 Comments Osceola school bus shortage![]() ![]() In a nationwide study by HopSkipDrive, a youth transportation organization, more than half of school districts reported they are somewhat constrained, while nearly 30% of respondents say they are severely strained. Many districts reported having recruiting issues, which is why many are seeing continued efforts from the school districts.Ī national study shows that 88% of respondents from a school transportation study say their operations have been constrained by the school driver shortage. Drivers will be paid $15 an hour during their training course, but once they become fully qualified, their wage will go up to $16.50. Their department still needs at least 30 more drivers. Transportation officials hope this event attracts more people to the field.ĭistrict officials said they are working with third-party vendors to alleviate some of the issues they are facing. The first bus driver job fair since the school year started is happening at the School District of Osceola Co. The district is hosting a job fair aimed at getting more bus drivers.The district said they’re working with third party vendors to alleviate some of the issues they’re facing.The School District of Osceola County, like many school districts nationwide, is experiencing a bus driver shortage.2, there will also be a job fair in Belle Glade.Ī spokesperson said the school district will pay to train bus drivers and will also offer them full benefits and a retirement program.įor more information about the qualifications and to apply, click here. at the district's Central Transportation Center, located at 3376 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach. The School District of Palm Beach County is hosting a weekly transportation job fair every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. Because what's happening right now, it's not really a good thing," Allen said. "More buses so everyone can get separated and at least have some space. But hopefully that will work out and we’ll have the drivers we need to run the system." "The district is doing everything we can to entice people to come here and drive our buses. "I don’t know if there’s any solution to the shortage of bus drivers," said Palm Beach County School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri. The school district is holding weekly job fairs, trying to up its staff, but it's not happening fast enough. So I'm not surprised to hear of some crowding."Ī spokeswoman said the school district is 146 bus drivers short of its goal of having 646 drivers.ĥ0,000 Palm Beach County students are registered to ride on school buses, and to meet that demand, any school district employees that have commercial driver's licenses are filling in. ![]() "Then when we started school with the delta variant, we’ve had to send drivers home. "Like many industries across the country, it’s hard to fill those jobs," Burke said. "If the bus is crowded, what happens is the driver has to turn back and make two trips and go back and double back to pick up additional kids," said Superintendent Michael Burke.īurke knows it's a problem and said the School District of Palm Beach County started the 2021/22 academic year on Aug. And then they get yelled at and we have to stop and then it delays time to get home."Ī nationwide bus driver shortage is the culprit. "Some people are sitting on top of each other's laps or just hanging on, standing usually. "And you get home at like six or seven, depending on how late."Īllen shared a video with WPTV to show how many students are packed on his bus after school with no opportunity for social distancing. "After school, we have a whole stadium in the gym just fully loaded with students," Allen said. He said sometimes the hour-plus walk from Forest Hill Community High School in West Palm Beach to his house in Palm Springs is faster than waiting for the bus to come back for him. "Lack of buses, drivers showing up late, buses are overloaded," said Forest Hill Community High School senior Damien Allen.Īllen just got new shoes for his long walks home. Maybe you've had to take your kids to school more often this year, or they've come home a lot later than usual. The School District of Palm Beach County is experiencing a massive bus driver shortage.
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