Board increases extracurricular bus pay, minimum trip fee to address driver shortages
March 19, 2024 | Allegheny-Clarion Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Allegheny‑Clarion Valley School Board voted to raise compensation for extracurricular bus runs and to increase the minimum trip payment after administrators described persistent driver shortages and contractor limits.
Board members approved a motion to remove a two‑hour unpaid wait and to raise the extracurricular wait-rate from $9.31 to $12.00 per hour for the 2024–25 contracts. Separately, the board voted to increase the minimum compensation for short trips from $92.60 to $120.00. Both motions passed by voice vote.
Administrators and board members said driver recruitment is constrained by certification costs and regulatory requirements. During discussion a board member characterized the current CDL-training cost as prohibitive; meeting participants reported a typical upfront course and testing cost of about $2,500, a sum several board members said discourages applicants in a rural district.
Board members and transportation staff discussed several mitigation options: offering local CDL training or apprenticeships if grants or third‑party providers can lower upfront costs; increasing contractor compensation to make extra runs more attractive; and targeted outreach to potential drivers. A board motion to bump the extracurricular hourly rate and raise the minimum trip payment was adopted and scheduled to take effect in the 2024–25 contracts.
Why it matters: The changes aim to reduce cancellations and staff strain by making extracurricular driving assignments financially more attractive to contracted drivers, and to reduce reliance on school vans and ad‑hoc arrangements. The board directed staff to implement the new rates for next-year contracts and to continue exploring training and grant options.
What happens next: Transportation staff will update contract language and vendor agreements for the 2024–25 season and continue outreach for drivers. The board requested that administration look for grants or partnerships to offset CDL training costs.
Board members approved a motion to remove a two‑hour unpaid wait and to raise the extracurricular wait-rate from $9.31 to $12.00 per hour for the 2024–25 contracts. Separately, the board voted to increase the minimum compensation for short trips from $92.60 to $120.00. Both motions passed by voice vote.
Administrators and board members said driver recruitment is constrained by certification costs and regulatory requirements. During discussion a board member characterized the current CDL-training cost as prohibitive; meeting participants reported a typical upfront course and testing cost of about $2,500, a sum several board members said discourages applicants in a rural district.
Board members and transportation staff discussed several mitigation options: offering local CDL training or apprenticeships if grants or third‑party providers can lower upfront costs; increasing contractor compensation to make extra runs more attractive; and targeted outreach to potential drivers. A board motion to bump the extracurricular hourly rate and raise the minimum trip payment was adopted and scheduled to take effect in the 2024–25 contracts.
Why it matters: The changes aim to reduce cancellations and staff strain by making extracurricular driving assignments financially more attractive to contracted drivers, and to reduce reliance on school vans and ad‑hoc arrangements. The board directed staff to implement the new rates for next-year contracts and to continue exploring training and grant options.
What happens next: Transportation staff will update contract language and vendor agreements for the 2024–25 season and continue outreach for drivers. The board requested that administration look for grants or partnerships to offset CDL training costs.
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