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School Transportation News Published by STN Media Group


An stnonline.com web poll in October asked if school districts and companies were short school bus drivers. Out of 328 responses, 91 percent answered yes. Here are additional comments posted to the STN Facebook page as to why.


So many different things add to the shortage. Lots of older drivers were moms that could afford to work part time jobs. Even though the pay is usually pretty good, most people have to work full-time jobs to support their household now. Add to it all the new and constantly changing laws and requirements. Don’t get me started on people not being able to pass random drug tests. The list of reasons goes on. Facebook/Terry Lynn


Everybody is short on school bus drivers. I believe [employers] expect way too much to become a driver these days. It’s not worth it, it’s just a part-time job. I know if I was to do it all over again with what they go through today, I wouldn’t do it. Facebook/Bob Dodge


I’m on my 23rd year and there are so many struggles. And it seems like school bus drivers are very under-appreciated. Facebook/Becky Fry


It’s a full-time, part-time, underpaid, underappreciated job. I respect them all. Facebook/Ryan Clark


Also, in October, industry consultant Derek Graham reflected on the Fox River Grove train-school bus crash near Chicago that killed seven students in 1995. Visit stnonline.com/go/7z to read his blog about how the crash continues to remind industry professionals to share route hazards with drivers.


This story has played such an impact on school transportation. It is a perfect reminder of why railroad tracks need to be taken seriously and route hazards documented and provided to all drives. I have been pushing the same story in my trainings for the reasons above. Facebook/Tyler Bryan


We see this accident every year in safety training. So sad, but the driver unfortunately was in the wrong. Facebook/Debi Sevener


Zina Ronca, a driver supervisor for DuVall Bus Service in West Grove, Pennsylvania, stirred up conversation on STN’s social media channels with her blog post, stnonline.com/go/80, that discussed the decimation of school bus contractors and the industry itself by COVID-19.


Very, very true. Been a small bus contractor for 38 years. Very worried of the future of bus contracting, I’m not a spring chicken to start something different. Facebook/Gary Wetzstein


8 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2021


Editor Ryan Gray


Associate Editor Taylor Hannon


Editorial Intern Ruth Newton


Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski


Senior Designer Kimber Horne


Graphic Design Maria Molina


Circulation Andrea Dugmore


CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Bluth Debbie Curtis Art Gissendaner Margaret Johnson Kari Lydersen Amanda Pampuro


James Romeo Mark Rowh Art Segal David Volz Eric Woolson


EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Marshall Casey, Consultant Denny Coughlin, Consultant Michael Dorn, Safe Havens International Ned Einstein, Transportation Alternatives Launi Harden, Consultant Pete Meslin, Consultant Alexandra Robinson, Consultant Michael Shields, Consultant


HOW TO CONTACT STN: School Transportation News welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and are subject to editing for grammar, style and space. Submissions must be legible, include a signature, job title/employer name, valid mailing and/or email address, and telephone number. Unsigned letters or letters signed only with a pseudonym or initials will not be used. Email letters to: ryan@stnmedia.com or send via U.S. mail to:


School Transportation News P.O. Box 789 Redondo Beach, CA 90277


The views and opinions in School Transportation News are those of the editorial staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board or their organizations. Individuals serving on the board are advisors only and are not responsible for the editorial content.


For permission to reuse materials in this publication, contact STN Editor Ryan Gray, at ryan@stnonline.com, or by phone at 310-792-2226 or by fax at 310-792-2231. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Printed in the U.S.A.


Publication Mail Agreement No. 40065374 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Winsor, ON N9A 6J5 Canada


5334 Torrance Blvd. 3rd Floor Torrance, CA 90503


Tel: 310-792-2226 Fax: 310-792-2231 stnonline.com


President & Publisher Tony Corpin


Chairman of the Board Bill Paul


Vice President Colette Paul


Client Services Coord. Claudia Newton


Event Manager Alice Hung Sabedra


Event Coordinators Samantha Gyerman Amy Yamakawa


Accounting Lisa Douglas


Creative Consultant Vincent Rios Creative, Inc.


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