The last couple of school years were plagued with multiple school bus cancellations locally due to a shortage of drivers. School bus drivers being temporarily off the job due to COVID-19 was also a big problem.
However, the executive director of the Sudbury Student Services Consortium said so far, things are looking better for school transportation for the 2022-23 school year.
“Currently, it appears as though we have enough drivers to cover all of our routes,” said Renée Boucher.
“So that's a good thing. However, like every year, we start the school year with enough drivers, and then we lose a few that are new, and who decide it’s not the job for them.
“So hopefully that won't happen. But companies are always looking to hire, and recruiting and retraining. That's something that happens regularly.”
She said local school bus operators have been able to recover their staffing levels this year after several drivers quit in 2020 due to the uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was then new.
Asked about the possible impact of COVID-19 on driver absences this school year, Boucher said “that is something I truly wouldn’t be able to guess.” She said she knows large numbers of absences are still a possibility, “but I’m hoping that it’s not as bad, at least, as last year.”
She said masks will continue to be provided for school bus drivers who use them.
Aside from staffing issues, Boucher said the consortium has introduced some new technology to school bus transportation.
Each school bus driver has been issued a tablet, which is mounted in the bus. “The tablet actually replaces route sheets,” Boucher said.
“So that's what we're doing now, is with the tablet, the driver can see the next stop, they can see who they're picking up at every stop.”
Parents are also encouraged to download an app called mTransport, which gives parents real-time route information about their child’s school bus.
“Parents are going to be able to see their child's information, they'll be able to see the bus stop, the time, and they will also be able to accept notifications,” Boucher said.
“And if they accept notifications, they'll be able to see that the bus is on its way or the bus has arrived at the bus stop, or also that the bus has arrived at the school.”
With the beginning of the new school year, Boucher warns parents to expect some delays with school bus transportation.
“We need to ensure that schools are taking their time at the end of the day to ensure students are boarding the proper buses, our drivers need to ensure they have the proper children on the buses and then also at each stop, so it takes much longer the very first few days of school,” she said.
Heidi Ulrichsen is the associate content editor at Sudbury.com. She also covers education and the arts scene.
