Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - School districts across Western New York are making adjustments to start times to ensure kids get to and from school on time as preparations continue for the upcoming school year.
"We're hopeful for a smooth start compared to the last three years with transportation," said Buffalo School Board member Larry Scott. He notes there will be three separate bell times this year to help with the bus driver shortage. He's also hoping for a smoother start to this year than in recent years.
Sweet Home Superintendent Michael Ginestre says there is still a bus driver shortage in his district. He says he could use anywhere from 15 to 20 more drivers as it would ease the strain on current drivers who are working overtime. But he's making one thing clear: every student will get to school and back on time.
Ginestre says Sweet Home Schools will also change start times at the six elementary schools to help. "We have two buildings going at one time and two buildings going to another time this year. And that is going to help with the strain," says Ginestre.
Niagara Falls Superintendent Mark Laurrie says the 'help wanted' sign is up in his district. "We are about half of our number needed," says Laurrie. He says the only way to solve the issue was to renegotiate the contract. "With a staggered schedule, where the high school and middle school students come in and depart at one time and the elementary kids do it at a different time, allowing one driver to take two runs," says Laurrie.
Laurrie says there's nothing he can foresee in the future that is going to make a significant dent in the shortage. "We are contracted with our bus companies. We've asked them to incentivize new drivers in every fashion that they can both monetarily benefit wise and working condition wise," says Laurrie.
There are also other competing driving options, Laurrie notes. "Those drivers may be driving packages, which don't have some of the issues sometimes that our students bring to them and with them on the bus. Laurrie says many drivers were retirees who are doing this as a second job or a second career. "With the onset of COVID and other health related issues. There's just not taking that chance of driving humans and to drive a package or get employment somewhere else as a second career is certainly more appealing," adds Laurrie.
He urges patience at the beginning of the year but confident that this will be a smooth transportation year.
