GREENVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The school bus driver shortage does not just affect the larger and more populated districts, small rural areas have a tough time finding drivers. NEWS10 talked to a district in Greene County about how they hope to address the problem.
The Greenville Central School District has experienced a bus driver shortage, like other school districts, and have looked for ways to retain drivers.
The district will pay for interested applicants to get their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Not only will the district pay for the CDL training but…
“We’ll pay them as they’re training, as long as they’re able to complete their license,” said Greenville Central School District Superintendent Michael Bennett.
He asks that drivers stay at least a year after they get their CDL because, he said, it’s difficult filling morning and afternoon routes.
To address the problem they’re looking to be as flexible as they can be to accommodate more drivers.
“We’ve spent the last three years taking a look at our bus routes as we started to really see an issue with the drivers and we’ve condensed. Mary Judeikis, our transportation supervisor, has done a great job condensing our routes we’ve been able to make do,” said Bennett.
Mary Judeikis said they’ve been trying to entice bus drivers but retention is still a challenge, so she’s turned to the school bus routing software Transfinder.
“It is a program that is helpful in routing students and putting them on the right path to where they need to go. It takes a lot of work to try to re-organize routes, to condense routes, in the last few years we’ve had to condense approximately five routes due to the lack of drivers,” said Judeikis.
They currently have three mechanics, a dispatcher and Judeikis driving bus routes.
“Sometimes we go out all at one time, so there is nobody left in the office for us. I do a lot of dispatching from the road for the drivers. It’s a difficult task, but we make it happen,” said Judeikis. She said the shortage impacts after school activities as well.
“You know it winds up making other things suffer, such a sports, making sure routes go out on time, and getting the children to and from school is our main priority,” said Judeikis.
She urges anyone interested to email her, or the transportation department at judeikism@greenvillecsd.org or transportationoffice@greenvillecsd.org.
“And they’re more than welcome to stop by at any point in time and they can actually get in the bus like a ride and drive event at any point in time and I’ll take them around campus and they can get a feel for the seat,” said Judeikis.
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