District says 1,061 bus routes assigned but 30 runs still lack drivers ahead of Sept. 8 opening

District transportation leadership told the Rochester Board of Education on Aug. 27 that routing and equipment are largely in place but staffing gaps remain.

"As of today, 1,061 transportation routes have been successfully assigned, to more than 225 locations," Jacob Scott said during the readiness presentation. He added that family notification letters were mailed and that the district had prioritized students with approved transportation exceptions from last year.

Scott also acknowledged vendor and driver pressures. "We do have 30 routes that are still not covered," he said, noting the number had dropped from 50 in recent days and that the district scheduled meetings with vendors to reassign and reroute as needed. Scott emphasized buses have been inspected and are "road ready," but said drivers and attendant staffing remain the critical operational risk.

Board members sought clarity on tracking spreadsheets, the definition of "road ready," and the status of special‑needs routing and harness inspections. Scott said road‑ready means equipment installation and inspection are complete and that he would update the question log and continue daily vendor coordination ahead of school opening.

Why it matters: Transportation disruptions can create immediate access issues for families and attendance impacts on the first day of school; the district’s remaining uncovered routes represent a practical, time‑sensitive implementation risk.