District reports driver shortages and route consolidation; administration seeks recruits and outlines training timeline

Transportation staff briefed trustees on driver shortages and service changes, saying one route that primarily serviced Bellevue and Alturas was closed in August and consolidated with other routes; staff said conditions were improving after the rough first days of school. The transportation presenter said the district has one or two current openings and that recruiting remains difficult; training commonly takes about six weeks.

When asked about the earliest morning stops and typical drop times, staff said morning elementary stops fall around 6:25–6:30 a.m. and that afternoon drop times have improved from earlier delays. The presenter explained minimum requirements for school bus drivers — age 18, valid driver's license, background and drug/alcohol testing — and said much of the necessary training can be provided in‑house.

Trustees discussed whether to reopen closed routes when drivers are hired and noted the risk of additional retirements. HR and transportation staff said they would post current route data on the website and incorporate the most up‑to‑date route information in the district newsletter.