approximately 4,000 students fall under the federal law’s provisions. Specialists are assigned to each stu- dent to determine eligibility. “We do our best to get them on yellow buses. If not, we use contracted services,” Johnson said. It wasn’t economic growth but a massive natural disaster, Hurri- cane Katrina, that necessitated the St. Bernard Parish School District’s regrowth from zero remaining stu- dents in September 2005, to more than 7,000 at the start of this school year. Prior to the deadly storm, the New Orleans-area
Did You Know?
Frisco ISD is the host of the annual TSD Conference Roadeo.
tion continued to grow. Bus drivers who wanted to return to us in the future were encouraged to call our personnel depart- ment [and report] when they could be available,” said Julie Ginart, supervisor of transportation. “In addition, we had local residents who
returned to our parish and were trained to become bus drivers.” It wasn’t until 2012 that the district began to hire drivers from outside of the community, a practice that has
district had 14 schools, a pre-school center and 8,800 students. After Katrina, the decimated district reopened with fewer than 500 preschool through 12th grade stu- dents in one location. “We hired back bus drivers who wanted to return when we reopened in November 2005. Our student popula-
continued to keep up with growth. The district is cur- rently at 85 percent of its pre-Katrina strength. “The bus driver shortage affects us, like it does most of the U.S.,” Ginart added. “Our entire department continues to speak personal-
ly with parents who seem to be available, supportive and responsible. Others look for retirees, or those who may not need or want a full-time position and are OK with no guarantee of how many days they will work.” ●
We take field trips as
seriously as you do. Field Trip Management Software
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www.stnonline.com 37
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