Kiski Area bus driver shortage could force district into remote learning

A shortage of school bus drivers continues to wreak havoc on transportation routes in the Kiski Area School District.

In a post Wednesday to the district’s Facebook page, officials described the problem as “extreme.”

The driver deficit has resulted in frequent morning and afternoon bus route pickup cancellations and delays.

John Tedorski, director of technology services and instruction, said the district is addressing its transportation woes “day-by-day.”

The shortage is being caused by drivers calling off sick, mainly for reasons related to covid.

If too many bus drivers don’t report to work, the district may revert to remote learning.

“It is one of the options on the table,” Tedorski said. “We’re doing everything we can to avoid that.”

Any decision to move to remote learning would be made by Superintendent Misty Slavic.

“We have done remote learning successfully,” Tedorski said.

The district is running late bus routes and having bus drivers double up and work multiple routes to try to offset the reduction in drivers.

Elementary, upper elementary and secondary route numbers 5, 34, 35, 46 and 38 were among some of the routes delayed by 15 to 30 minutes Wednesday morning.

The Tribune-Review first reported on the Kiski Area bus driver shortage in November.

In a Facebook post Wednesday night, officials said that any changes to transportation times and routes will be communicated through the SkyAlert phone call system.

“We’d like parents to stay tuned to our website and social media, and we notify the parents affected on that day and route via phone message,” Tedorski said.

The district has transportation contract agreements with two bus companies: Byers in Vandergrift and Smith in Blairsville.

Several bus driver applicants are undergoing training with Smith, but that takes several weeks to complete, Tedorski said.

Byers owner Julia Martin pointed to ongoing covid-related conditions as the primary reason for the shortage.

“We’re not used to seeing things up in the air like this day to day,” Martin said.

Byers usually employs about 35 drivers, but staffing had dipped to about 26 drivers.

In an effort to help remedy a national shortage of school bus drivers, the U.S. Department of Education has temporarily waived certain requirements for driving applicants.

A federal waiver was announced Jan. 4. It gives states the option of waiving the portion of the commercial driver’s license skills test where one identifies bus engine parts.

“This federal waiver will help schools that are short on bus drivers,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “By allowing states to focus on the testing requirements that are critical to safety, we will get additional, qualified drivers behind the wheel to get kids to school safely.”

All other CDL skills testing requirements remain in place.