State group warns school bus driver shortages reaching critical level
Wisconsin School Bus Association (WSBA) advocates for safe school bus operations in Wisconsin as our members continue to face a multitude of continued challenges due to the COVID-19 health crisis. As members look forward to the end of the pandemic, it is clear that the crisis has taken a toll on our country’s workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings rose to an unprecedented 9.2 million in June. U.S. airlines have canceled hundreds of flights. Delays in shipping freight and cargo have affected all retail sectors. Hiring continues to be a challenge for this country.
School districts around the nation are struggling to find people who are willing and qualified to drive school buses and Wisconsin is no different. A simple Google search of “school bus” presents pages and pages of local articles reporting on school districts and companies that are short drivers. School Bus Fleet magazine reported the bus driver shortage is still a major issue with 81% reporting that COVID-19 will exacerbate the shortage.
School bus transportation is an extension of the education system and used by at least 75% of the K-12 student population in Wisconsin. It is, for most, the only path to equity in education. However, a shortage of drivers jeopardizes the ability to get 750,000 students back and forth safely to school and other activities. Both contracted school bus transportation companies and district-run operations are struggling to find drivers as this issue continues to escalate. WSBA members project this critical level shortage to continue beyond the 2021-2022 school year.
Many children may be forced into less safe ways to get to and from school and many will have no safe way to get to school at all.
The school bus driver shortage has been an issue for many years and the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated it. There are several factors contributing to this worsened issue, with no easy solutions.
_ High levels of enhanced unemployment benefits and the child tax credit are compounding the problem.
_ Candidates are applying to be a driver, but for most it is only as a means to provide supporting documentation for unemployment benefits.
_ Other drivers are not returning because of COVID-19 related health concerns and vaccine hesitancy. Many school bus drivers fall into categories of high risk for severe illness related to COVID-19. One-third of the workforce is over 60.
Even with Federal unemployment programs set to end on September 6, it’s important to note that it takes time to move an applicant through the hiring process to become qualified to drive a school bus. When new drivers apply it can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks to get them certified and trained before they are allowed behind the wheel of a school bus.
The school bus industry is actively working to recruit new drivers in the following ways.
• Increased advertising through all mediums
• Providing open houses and hiring events
• Increasing wages
• Providing sign-on and referral bonuses • Wellness calls to current employees weekly
• Paying local recruiters and working with parent groups
• Radio and TV interviews
• Increased signs, banners, and car magnets Schools will have to maximize utilization of the existing staff to stagger pick-up and drop-off times and combine routes. Without a healthy and robust strength of school bus drivers more children may be forced into less safe ways to get to and from school, and many will have no safe way to get to school at all.
To ensure the viability of Wisconsin’s education system and the ability to transport our schoolchildren, WSBA members encourage all stakeholders to work with their transportation department or contractor to find ways to provide safe and efficient school bus transportation for the children who rely on the yellow school bus. Working together is more critical now than ever. WSBA also encourages those who are looking for a rewarding job to consider becoming a school bus driver and contact your local school or transportation company.
