Lee County School Board to hold a transportation workshop

Reporter: Tiffany Rizzo Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
school bus
School buses parked in Helena, Mont., ahead of the beginning of the school year, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. School districts across the country are coping with a shortage of bus drivers, a dilemma that comes even as they struggle to start a new school year during a new surge of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Iris Samuels)

With one month left for the academic year, parents’ concerns have turned to frustration as buses struggle to get kids to and from school.

Lee County parents have been bombarded with text messages regarding bus changes, as the school district is set to discuss an outline with new information to alleviate the decades-long struggle.

Despite increasing drivers’ pay to $18.90 an hour, changes to the proximity plan for high school and middle school students for the 2024/2025 year, and improved routes, bus drivers are still experiencing transportation issues.

Drivers are still running late, and the county is still short 87 bus drivers. More than 47,000 kids use the bus daily to get to and from school.

According to the school board, an analysis of GPS data is being conducted to locate efficient coverage for open routes and improve delivery time.

The transportation department aims to increase the on-time percentage of buses by 3%, from 88% to 91% in the morning and 71% to 74% in the afternoon.

The workshop is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

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