MOBILE, Ala. (WALA)- The COVID-19 pandemic taking its toll on faculty bus routes throughout the nation. The Cell County Public Faculty System isn’t any exception.
“It’s at all times tough to seek out bus drivers in any given yr, however after all with COVID everyone seems to be experiencing shortages so we’re having a scarcity of bus drivers,” mentioned Rena Philips.
The Cell County Public Faculty System has about 600 bus drivers and usually runs 600 to 700 routes a day. Rena Philips with the college system says the variety of drivers varies day by day and weekly. The transportation division has been in a position to alter bus routes as wanted.
“We even have drivers that may do a number of routes and that’s how we’re getting round doing that,” mentioned Philips. “We do have another staff that may step in and do routes as wanted.”
Combining routes has its personal challenges. The additional stops and driver shortages typically trigger busses to run late. The college system says dad and mom will probably be notified when this occurs and that every one college students will proceed to get to highschool safely.
“There could also be a time when there’s a delay with a bus route however our colleges are doing job of letting dad and mom know when that occurs,” mentioned Philips. “We’re doing the most effective we will to workers these buses and get our kids to highschool. We’ve got been in a position to get all of our kids to highschool.”
The Cell County Public Faculty System does have openings on its web site for bus drivers. These must undergo the correct coaching together with having a CDL license.
