There are enough buses.

But finding enough certified drivers is another story.

A severe shortage of school bus drivers and bus aides magnified last year during the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States.

Delaware is no exception, though the majority of schools in Kent and Sussex counties appear to have a firm grip on their steering wheels and don’t expect any major transportation issues when doors to schools swing back open this fall.

“Is there a driver ‘shortage’?” said Mike Williams, community relations specialist with the Caesar Rodney School District. “Yes, there is. CRSD is facing the same issues that all districts are looking at for the coming year.

“The district operates 20 buses and 10 vans. A few driver-in-training staff are currently completing their necessary testing with the (Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles). When that training is completed, CRSD expects to be fully staffed.”

He added, “Van driver interviews are ongoing, and the expectation is they will be completed before the opening of the school year. CRSD does contract with outside companies for the majority of our busing needs. We do not control the hiring of those drivers.”

Mr. Williams said that if anyone is looking to work in the school transportation field, it should be relatively easy to find employment either as a bus driver or an aide.

“We can’t encourage enough the importance of any interested person to apply with private contractors or their local school district to be a bus driver or aide,” he said. “Their support of this important component of student education is very important.”

Meanwhile, Pat Williams, superintendent of the Smyrna School District, said, “If the 2021-22 school year were to start today, Smyrna School District would be down three drivers and zero aides.”

Trish Gerken, public information officer with the Milford School District, said she believes the schools there are set up well for the upcoming school year.

“I spoke with Jon LoBiondo, our transportation supervisor,” Ms. Gerken said. “He stated, ‘Our contractors have been doing a fantastic job trying to stay ahead of the curve with regard to the driver shortage. At this time, we are expecting to be at full capacity when the school year starts.’ Which is great news!”

However, while most are prepared to face the transportation challenges the upcoming year will bring, there are others who are facing unique situations.

“We’ve had a shortage for a while, and that shortage continues,” said Indian River School District Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens.

Added IRSD Transportation Supervisor Shawn Tidwell, “It’s not just the Indian River School District. It’s our contractors. It’s everybody. We’re all hurting.”

Delaware’s Department of Education recently reported that school districts and charter schools have been working hard to recruit new employees. Unfortunately, DOE reports few new applicants into the field, according to department spokeswoman Alison May.

The bus driver shortage was a challenge prior to the pandemic, and since COVID-19 arrived, it has worsened because the average age of those drivers puts them into higher risk categories, according to DOE.

The scarcity also extends to bus aides, who assist with certain transportation requirements for students. Because the timeline for getting school bus drivers properly trained and credentialed is governed by federal and state law, Delaware school districts and charter schools are feeling pressure to hire staff immediately, so they are ready for the start of the academic year.

“Any person that is interested in being a driver or an aide, please contact us, and we’ll get you in touch with some of our local contractors,” said Dr. Owens. “We’re in a desperate need for drivers.”

Not every school district is facing a driver crisis, though.

“Fingers crossed, we are OK as of today (Tuesday),” said Woodbridge School District Superintendent Heath Chasanov.

The Woodbridge district has “a couple of situations that we are monitoring but are hopeful that we will be fine.”

The Seaford School District is looking to fill a handful of bus driver voids. As of Tuesday, the district was “down one district driver, and our contractors are down six drivers,” said district spokesman Jason Cameron. “DOE has helped by increasing pay for contractors and drivers. One of the major concerns we have is the length of time that is needed to obtain your (commercial driver’s license with passenger/school bus endorsements)... . It is a lengthy and arduous process.”

Mr. Cameron went on to explain the pay scale for Seaford’s drivers: A bus driver for his district at Step 1 — with no previous experience — starts at $16.04 an hour, while bus aides receive $13.68. At Step 25, the driver’s hourly wage would be $21.01, while an aide at Step 25 receives $19.64.

Dustin Weller, student services supervisor for the Lake Forest School District, said it has had to adjust schedules to make everything work out during the bus driver shortage.

“The Lake Forest School District has 13 bus contractors that are contracted to operate 51 buses in our district,” Mr. Weller said. “Over the past two years, we have had to change our bell schedule in order to provide flexibility to double up on some of our routes if necessary.

“Double up is defined as having a bus run a secondary school route then run an elementary school route. This was done to ensure our contractors can fulfill all of their obligations with no disruption to student transportation.”

He added that his district is about five bus drivers short of what it needs to ensure all its buses operate, but it is currently able to fulfill all routes at each school due to their current bell schedule.

“While we are at a point where we can still function without disruption, we are running the risk of disruption if we lose more drivers,” said Mr. Weller. “In an optimal situation, we would have all 51 buses fully staffed with drivers and substitutes available to cover situations such as driver illness.

“This could also lower the student count and riding time on some of our buses, making student discipline less of a potential issue.”

Indian River, geographically one of Delaware’s largest districts at 365 square miles, has 166 buses, including 14 in its fleet and the bulk through contractors.

“I am down at least three or four drivers for my fleet of 14,” said Mr. Tidwell. “We are currently working with our contractors to figure out where everybody stands. We’ve got emails out, trying to figure out where they stand. Some are good and some not so much.”

Steps being taken

In efforts to assist schools with this challenge:

• DOE continued to provide driver and aide training throughout the pandemic.
• DMV is scheduling road tests in a timely manner and accepting S (school bus) endorsements from other states once the school bus drivers meet the Delaware training requirements. The state is also offering a stipend to those who complete the training and become fully licensed.
• To attract more candidates, the state has increased bus driver compensation — the hourly driver rate rose 1% — and created additional financial incentives, such as double-tier and triple-tier allowances to more accurately compensate drivers who service more than one route. Because some districts hire their drivers/aides directly and others use contractors, “If they are district employees, then they saw a percentage increase that all state workers received; the state also has increased contractor rates in recent years, but the actual employee pay rates are set locally, so I can’t tell you what they start at or how that compares to previous starting salaries,” said Ms. May.
• DOE is developing a small group of stakeholders to explore additional opportunities that may help alleviate these staffing shortages, and the state’s Public School Transportation Committee is continuing to evaluate the funding formula and other transportation-related issues.

Requirements

To become a qualified school bus driver, a person must:

• Be 18 or older.
• Obtain a CDL by passing a test at DMV. Districts/employers will provide trainers to teach the skills needed to past the road test.
• Complete a Delaware school bus driver background check and the Delaware Child Protection Registry.
• Undergo preemployment drug testing.
• Complete a Delaware school bus driver physical with tuberculosis screening.
• Complete behind-the-wheel training.
• Attend the Delaware School Bus Driver Training School’s two-day class (offered in each county monthly).

Disqualifying factors are:

• No more than five points (full point value) on the applicant’s three-year driving record. Recalculated points and the Defensive Driving Course’s three-point credits do not apply to S endorsement holders.
• The applicant’s license must not have been suspended, revoked or disqualified in this state or any other jurisdiction for moving violations in the last five years. Certified driving records from other jurisdictions may be requested for these applicants.
• The applicant must have not been convicted of any crime under the laws of Delaware or any other jurisdiction as specified in 21 Del.C. §2708(b)(7).

A school bus aide applicant must be 18 or older and attend Delaware school bus driver/aide training (offered in each county monthly), as well as complete a public school employee background check; the Child Protection Registry; preemployment Drug Testing; and a school bus aide physical (with tuberculosis screening).

Those interested in becoming a driver or aide can contact DOE’s Transportation Office at 857-3390 or via doeschool.transportation@doe.k12.de.us.

‘Critical’ for IRSD

Mr. Tidwell explained the additional license requirements for bus drivers.

“You need to obtain the S endorsement, which is the school bus endorsement,” he said. “We have a lot of people that have their CDL. They might be able to drive a dump truck or a firetruck. The school bus is above and beyond that. The S endorsement is above and beyond that CDL. There is a process they have to do.

“I lot of people don’t want to go through all of this. Applicants are not there. It’s critical statewide,” he added. “Now, DMV has done a lot better to try to streamline and make the process easier. Some can make (it) in three days. Some make (it) in three months.”

In addition to the shortage of qualified bus drivers, Mr. Tidwell said the district recently lost both of its driver trainers. “I’m going to have to lean on one of our contractors,” he said.
At present, plans are for a full return to in-school sessions this fall, and Gov. John Carney lifted the state of emergency July 13, 16 months after its enactment.

During the 2020-21 year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mandated social distancing, which greatly reduced student capacity on school buses.

“The biggest thing we had was our seating capacity (last year). We were down to 23,” said Mr. Tidwell. “A normal middle school or high school bus, I can put 48 students on. Elementary, I can put up (to) 72 on. When it gets to 23, that becomes an issue.”

For now, buses for this coming school year will be allowed to have full student capacity. But masks will be required.

“As of ... July 27, we are able to put up to 72 (elementary) because we are unable to meet social distancing guidelines,” said Mr. Tidwell. “We are masking, as CDC requires us to. Even with the state of emergency being lifted on July 13, federal law currently requires mask (wearing) on buses — and social distancing should be maintained when possible. (But) it’s impossible for us to (do) it where we are at.”

Mr. Tidwell, formerly IRSD’s transportation route specialist who assumed his current role with the retirement of Harold Walters in July, experienced firsthand the driver/aide shortage crunch.

“I have been pulled out of the office a lot to assist on buses, to be a bus aide. We have shuffled and try to make things work. Harold and I, the last month of school, we were on the buses more than we were in the office. That’s how short we were,” he said. “Luckily, I have a secretary in the personnel office who has her school bus driver’s endorsement; we had to use her one day. It’s that severe. We’re robbing Peter to pay Paul in efforts to make sure we do everything possible to get these students to school.

“We’re doing our best to keep everybody safe — whether it be the child, the driver or whatever.”