INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
Numerous Reasons Cited for Widespread Driver Shortages School districts across the nation are facing bus driver
shortages despite an economy that has millions looking for work. Geneseo (N.Y.) Central School District is now paying higher rates for outside bus drivers in order to fill a gap left by their disgruntled drivers who resigned to protest the new single-run bus schedule. In Florida, Palm Beach County School District and Hillsborough
County Schools have experienced major delays and overcrowding because of driver shortages. In Louisiana, the Lewiston, Auburn and Gray–New Gloucester student transportationl departments have struggled to recruit bus drivers because of the inconsistent hours and wages of $12 to $14 per hour.
Petition for Class-Action Lawsuit Filed
Against Indiana School District An attorney representing a parent who is suing Franklin
Township Schools for implementing school bus fees filed a petition requesting the case be certified a class-action lawsuit. Tom Blessing, one of the attorneys representing Lora Hoagland, said the court deemed 30 to 40 people sufficient to grant class-action status. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 4 to decide if the case proceeds as a class-action. As of this writing, Hoagland was the sole plaintiff, but another person was to represent the parents who paid the bus fees. “We’re asking for two classes of people to be certified in the
lawsuit because the damages will be different,” Blessing said. On Nov. 2, he filed the lawsuit on behalf of Hoagland in
Marion Superior Court, claiming that allowing an outside organization to charge parents for bus service to schools violates a provision of Indiana’s constitution that states public education must be tuition-free. Last year, Franklin Township contracted with Central Indiana Educational Services Center, which charges a monthly ridership fee of $47 per student. CIESC is not named in the lawsuit. Some parents decided to pay for bus service, but others like Hoagland opted to drive their children because they said they couldn’t afford the cost.
Walker County (Ala.) Schools Transportation Director
Mike Scott said he is struggling to fill a dozen full-time driver positions. Some North Dakota and Texas school districts have shortages because of stiff competition from nearby oil fields, where the a CDL holder can earn wages up to five times higher. Retired Minneapolis Public Schools fleet manager Denny
Coughlin, now a consultant, said tighter budgets have forced many Minnesota school districts to slash benefits, so drivers are earning less but working harder due to longer routes and consolidation. “Tis is a real backward system since we’re carrying the most precious cargo there is,” said Coughlin.
LaHood to Step Down U.S. Department of Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood announced in October that he will leave his post at the end of President Obama’s current
term. LaHood, who gave no
reason for his retirement, oversees 11 agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During his tenure, he has focused on job creation, infrastructure improvements and safer driving. Prior to this appointment, he served for 14 years as
Congressman for the 18th district and for 12 years as the chief of staff for House Minority Leader Bob Michael. He was elected to Congress in 1994 after Michael retired. LaHood told news outlets he would no longer run for
public office and specifically ruled out a run for Illinois governor. He said he expects to find some “wonderful opportunities” in the private sector.
Obama Repeal Withholding of Contractual Payments Made by School Districts President Obama signed into law legislation in November that includes small tax breaks for companies that hire veterans with
the repeal of a 3-percent tax withholding on all government contracts, including those between school districts and third-party contractors. Te repeal of the IRS rule affects how school districts, especially those in large urban areas with budgets larger than $100 million, pay contractors or other vendors. Te budget dollar amounts exclude payroll, NSTA added in a notice sent to members. H.R. 674 was introduced in February by a bi-partisan group of 269 representatives. A similar resolution passed the House
by a vote of 405 to 16 in November. Te Senate then combined that with its own bill to address the misreporting of taxes by government vendors. Te IRS issued related final regulations this summer with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2013.
18 School Transportation News Magazine January 2012
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