![]() ![]() “We have people working diligently on the back end to make sure we can try to accommodate or students and families as best as possible … but that is a possibility.”īased on data gathered from a recent parent survey to assess transportation needs, Megan Patton, director of pupil transportation services, estimated a shortage of 1,200 seats come May 3, a number that’s only expected to grow. “Unfortunately, that is a possibility,” he said. ![]() Right now, he said, the district can’t ensure there will be enough bus seats for every student who has expressed a need. Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said it’s possible some won’t be able to come back to class at all, if they aren’t able to find alternative transportation. In a typical school year, however, the district’s transportation department is responsible for around 30,000 students total, including those in private and parochial schools. The largest school district in the region, Pittsburgh Public Schools had an enrollment of 20,000 as of October 2020. The district is using a hybrid learning model, in which students attend school for two days and are remote for three.ĭistrict officials said the lack of available bus seats will become an issue May 3, when more than 10,000 students return for face-to-face instruction. Support category 3 will return April 26, and the remainder of students, in Support Categories 1 and 2, will be back in classrooms May 3. Pittsburgh Public Schools welcomed back 4,786 students this week in “Support Category 4,” which includes students considered to have the greatest need for in-person instruction. The district is asking families with the ability to find alternative means to get their children to school. Skills tests can be scheduled at dmv.pa.gov.The return to classrooms within Pittsburgh Public Schools this week was a success, district officials said - but a looming shortage of bus drivers could threaten the district’s ability to bring in more students.Ī severe shortage of bus drivers means the district won’t have enough open seats for everyone, as the number of students returning to buildings gradually increases this month. The state is also temporarily opening CDL skills testing for four weeks to give more opportunities to those interested. “By building coalitions, by facilitating connections and by putting out the call surrounding the alarm about this critical need.” “But we are keeping our eyes on the situation and responding the best way we can,” Ortega said. State Education Secretary Noe Ortega said Thursday that there aren’t easy solutions and it’s not an issue that will be solved soon. Ryan Dellinger, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, said that training and certification can take about 12 weeks. Also, it requires commercial driving training. School bus drivers often work a split shift for a part-time position. District officials did not immediately respond to a request for an updated number on Thursday. As of last week, 200 students were still without district-provided transportation. Pittsburgh Public Schools delayed the start of the 2021-21 school year because of the driver shortage. They weren’t guaranteed work and either retired early or moved to a different field altogether. Private bus contractors across the state report that they lost employees when schools moved to remote learning in March 2020. According to PennDOT, there are a little more than 42,000 CDL school bus drivers, down from 44,000 in 2017. Commercial drivers license holders interested in school bus driving are directed to fill out this survey.ĭuring a press conference Thursday, officials estimated they will need about 2,000 drivers to help fill the gap that was exacerbated by the pandemic. So far, about 1,300 drivers have expressed interest. To keep students learning in person, the departments of Transportation and Education have reached out to 376,000 commercially licensed drivers in the state to help connect them to school districts in need. The number of commercially licensed bus drivers is the lowest it’s been in the commonwealth in five years. Pennsylvania state officials are trying to find more school bus drivers for districts facing a shortage. ![]()
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