School bus drivers still needed

The search continues for people willing to serve as bus drivers for the Oconto Falls School District.

As school bus drivers retire or otherwise leave the district, it’s been increasingly hard in recent years to find replacements, Superintendent Dean Hess told the school board June 20.

“We currently have two main routes that are not covered, and we do not have subs to sub in on those routes,” Hess said. “So to finish up the year, we had mechanics as well as supervisors driving those routes, then district office staff would cover the phones for them.”

School officials expect to bring a proposal in July asking the board consider cutting back routes.

“If we have some influx of people who can drive buses between now and then, we can potentially avoid that,” he said. “But we have been beating the brush now for more than 12 months to try to get people to join us, and we have not been able to accomplish that.”

The administration previously raised the possibility of ending bus service within two miles of schools, and Hess said that will likely be part of the new proposal. State law requires districts to provide service only when students live two or more miles from a school building.

Board President Clint Gardebrecht suggested that the board’s transportation committee meet before the July meeting get them up to speed, consider ideas for attracting drivers and discuss options. The committee is comprised of board members Adam Adler, Jan Stranz and Sarah Schindel.

Hess said the district has placed multiple ads in local papers and on Facebook, and it even had a booth at the County Fair last August.

Gardebrecht said the issue is not unique to the Oconto Falls School District, which runs its own transportation system. Private bus companies that serve other school districts are also having trouble finding drivers.

The district adjusted pay for drivers two years ago and again six months ago, along with bonuses for various benchmarks and milestones, Hess said.

“We compensate well compared with other districts and private firms,” he said.