AC Valley faces bus driver shortages for extracurricular runs; board considers raising rates and adds new bussing contract

During the March 11 workshop transportation staff and board members described shortages among contracted bus drivers that have strained the district’s ability to cover extracurricular runs and suggested possible responses.

Lori (Sherman) said two contracted bus companies are operating with fewer available drivers because of health issues, leaving the district near its minimum coverage for regular bus routes and unable to reliably cover extracurricular and vocational trips. She said the district has advertised on social platforms and that some contractors are recruiting drivers, but shortages remain.

Board members discussed increasing the extracurricular minimum compensation or per‑mile rate to make runs more attractive to contractors and drivers. David said the district has historically followed the state index for bus rates but has not recently increased extracurricular minimums; he asked the board to review the transportation comparison he provided and consider adjustments as part of budget planning.

David also said the district will enter a contract with Barber (transcript also referenced "Bobber" Bussing) tied to a contractor getting a new bus; staff framed that as an accounting and state‑reporting alignment to reflect the change in equipment rather than a substantive change in service terms.

No binding change to rates was made at the workshop; staff will return with more information for the March 18 meeting.