Driver shortage may impact routes

PRESCOTT – In-town school bus routes will return to Prescott this fall, though a bus driver shortage and growing transportation needs will prevent the number of routes from matching pre-COVID route numbers.

At the Prescott School Board meeting Wednesday, July 28, Transportation Director Tim Rundquist presented a plan detailing in-town bus stops and routes for the district’s 11 buses.

The state requires districts to provide bussing for any student who lives a mile or further from a school, or who lives in a hazardous zone that would involve crossing a highway to get to school (such as the neighborhood behind Kasco Marine, which is separated from schools by Highway 10.) Under the new proposal, no student will have to walk more than four blocks to get to a bus stop, Rundquist said. The in-town pick-up/drop-off points were chosen so all children would have to walk about the same distance to a stop. They were also chosen in areas in which apartment buildings are located or a lot of children live, Rundquist said. The 2021-2022 in-town stops are:

•Bus 2, Monroe/Helen, Monroe/Flora and Monroe/Washington •Bus 3, Flora/Walnut, Flora/Orange

•Bus 7, Malone Intermediate at 7:35 a.m., Malone Elementary at 7:38 a.m.

•Bus 8, Elm/Ash, PMS at 7:35 a.m.

•Bus 10, Shane Park Circle/Glenridge Drive

•Bus 12, St. Joseph Parish School at 7:40 a.m.

•Bus 14, Pearl/Hilton, James/Hampshire

•Bus 15, New Adventures Daycare

•Bus 19, Heart, Hands & Mind Daycare

•Bus 20, Canton/Pine

•Bus 21, Jewell/Dexter, Walnut/Linden In-town pick-ups will occur between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m.

Bus routes are planned based on enrollment and where students live. When COVID hit, one of the in-town busses was moved into the country to provide for less riders per bus and shortened bus times. This helped to shorten some students’ time on buses by 15 minutes, Rundquist said.

This year’s proposal keeps that extra bus out in the country, but disperses students differently to allow for some intown stops. As developments grow out in the country, more country students need bussing, Rundquist said. He is still collecting parent surveys, so he plans to make a final decision by this week on routes/stops. Parents can log into Infinite Campus to see their bus number and pick-up/drop-off times.

One problem Prescott and many area districts are facing is a driver shortage. Rundquist, who is short one driver and substitute drivers, has been advertising the position for two months, with no inquiries.

“Without that extra person, it will change half of our routes on the south side of town,” Rundquist said.

Training is provided to applicants free of charge, onsite. Drivers to not have to travel for training or testing.

“I think bussing in town is vital to helping assure the safety to our students and parents’ ease of mind,” school board member Pat Block said.

He added that while four blocks isn’t far, kids will still have to walk in the dark and snow due to a reduction in intown stops, compared to pre-COVID.

Rundquist said with population growth, keeping the number of students less per route and keeping that extra bus in the country, to back to pre-COVID equivalent bussing, he would need to add three buses and as many drivers. Budgetwise, in 2020-21 costs should have lessened due to no field trip transportation and less athletic events; however, more fuel was used for the country routes, plus gas prices increased.

“You’re operating on a budget we had two years ago with the same fleet,” School Board President Mike Matzek said. “In order to really solve the problem, we’d need to increase the transportation budget by three buses and three drivers. We’re trying to live with what we had as far as dollars and support in our fleet and what we have for drivers and trying to do the best we can.”

Superintendent Dr. Rick Spicuzza said the bus garage load balances the fleet to take care of more riders in the country.

“We still have the same number of drivers, same number of buses at this time,” Spicuzza said. “The challenge is that we’re a couple of weeks away and Tim might have to eliminate a route if we don’t get a driver.”

Point blank, the bus garage is doing the best it can with what it has, Matzek said.

“It’s not ideal but to get to ideal, it will cost more money,” he added.

If anyone is interested in a bus driver position, call Rundquist at 715-262-3212.

Map courtesy of Transportation Director Tim Rundquist