Shawnee Mission will cut 15 high school bus routes after the new year due to an ongoing bus driver shortage.
Why it matters: The move, which will take effect in the spring 2023 semester, will impact 284 high school students, according to district officials.
Driving the news: Christy Ziegler, the district’s chief of student services, diversity, equity and inclusion, told the school board on Monday that it’s been hard do find bus drivers the past two years.
- Ziegler said DS Bus Lines has already been offering a $1,500 referral bonus and a $1,000 retention or sign-on bonus in an effort to combat the issue.
- Cutting these high school routes, all of which are paid service routes that are within 2 miles of the schools, is not ideal for anyone, she said.
Key quote: “This is not the situation we’d hoped to bring forward at this time, but we understand that this is not a challenge that is unique to Shawnee Mission,” Ziegler said. “We’ve monitored reports across the metro since the start of this school year — and also nationally — on driver shortages and the changes in services that have resulted in other communities. We’ll continue monitor the services and the staffing, and also work to promote driver opportunities and supporting DS Bus Lines through our job fairs and communications.”
State of play: The district is operating with 133 bus drivers, 67 less than pre-pandemic numbers, Ziegler told the board on Monday.
- There are 19 unassigned routes with no available driver to staff the route, she said.
- The district tries to put one driver on two or three routes when possible, and as a result, some students are on a bus for more than an hour.
- On top of that, more routes will need to be filled with the upcoming rebuilds of Rushton and Pawnee elementary schools, which will require transportation for students to temporary school sites during construction.
Info for families impacted by SMSD bus route change
Ziegler said she has been in contact with high school principals to connect with impacted families.
- Those who have already paid for the full year of transportation will receive refunds.
- Sara Goodburn, the SM North area board member, asked if impacted students would be able to walk to an existing, nearby bus stop to get to school.
- Ziegler said the district plans to work with impacted families who can’t easily find a work around next semester with this mid-year change.
