The Boone County Schools Deputy Superintendent Eric McArtor brought concern for the 20 vacant bus routes to the Boone County School board meeting on Thursday.
Although the district has recently received six new buses this school year, it is still experiencing staffing shortages.
“Most of those routes are either doubled or being filled by our office staff,” McArtor said.Â
McArtor’s efforts to employ more transportation employees for the district consist of new T-shirts for transportation employees to wear. The T-shirts say “Will You Help Us” on the front. On the back of the T-shirt is a QR code directing people to an application link to apply to become a bus driver.
Doubled routes in the district consist of a singular bus providing transportation for what should be a two-bus route.
“We are trying to do as much as we can to recruit our drivers,” McArtor said.
Mckenzie Rogers, a parent representative for the school district and member of the transportation committee, has made efforts to set up meetings with the American Legion and Gateway Community College to discuss the need for bus drivers.
Bill Sullender, also known as Sully around the district, is a special needs bus driver of 17 years. Sullender suggested a pay increase for drivers who are doing double the work with the extra routes.
“I’ve been here 17 years. All I hear is that transportation does not have enough money,” Sullender said. “Can anybody tell me what year they did have enough money?”
The board had no response to Sullender’s question.
Sullender mentioned an Email sent out by Superintendent Matthew Turner, encouraging bus drivers to contact Kentucky Legislators regarding the financial issues within the transportation department of the Boone County School District.
“I wrote to all six of them,” Sullender said. “The inflation is hurting us, the bus drivers, the janitors, all of us. We are at least 62 drivers short, up to 81 on the high end. There’s a percentage of the drivers doing double the work every day, they are getting burned out, and there’s no additional compensation for the extra work.”
Sullender said he believes many people can’t endure these conditions much longer.
“I wanted them to feel something when I spoke,” Sullender said. “They have the power to change the culture here. When you drive a bus, it is not just about getting that child from here to there. There is a relationship just like there is with the teachers. Unless you’re not on the bus to hear or see that, you have no idea.”
Sullender’s final call to action to the district board was urging a board member to join the salary committee to hear the voices of the transportation department within the district.
So far, the county has two drivers in training, and are in the process of interviewing additional candidates.