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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
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CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Bluth Debbie Curtis Art Gissendaner Margaret Johnson Kari Lydersen Amanda Pampuro
James Romeo Mark Rowh Art Segal David Volz Eric Woolson
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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:
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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.
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