The Durham school system is asking parents of its 18,813 school bus riders to transport their children to and from school one day per week between Dec. 2 and Dec. 20.
As the district battles an ongoing bus driver shortage, the measure aims to ensure that no bus route is uncovered for consecutive days. Further, the move will allow transportation services staff, some of whom have left their posts to fill in as emergency drivers, to return to their jobs and focus on solving the shortage.
In October, district leaders said the school system was short at least 30 bus drivers. As of Nov. 18, there are 128 driver candidates in the hiring pool, according to the presentation released prior to last night’s meeting.
At the meeting — conducted in semi-darkness due to a power outage — Mathew Palmer, DPS’ senior executive director of school planning and operational services, announced the rotational route plan. Having parents drive their children to school once per week will allow bus drivers to rotate to cover the other routes, he said.
“What it does allow us to do is ensure that we are able to provide families coverage,” Palmer explained. “If we have five days in a week we can give you a bus ride four consistent days. The day that we cannot, we will let you know that in advance.”
To reduce confusion, during the month of December, each family will be assigned a certain day of the week when they are responsible for their children’s transportation. Further, DPS attendance guidelines will be loosened so that children are not penalized for arriving late or missing school when their bus is not running. For children who arrive late, DPS will still provide a free breakfast.
Since August, the bus driver shortage has frenzied DPS families, obliging parents to find last-minute transport by missing work, arranging car pools, calling an Uber for their child, or not sending their children to school at all.
Prior to the district’s announcement, parents spoke Thursday during public comment on the challenges they’ve faced transporting their children. Some buses have been delayed in both the morning and the afternoon, parents said.
“Lakewood has one bus that has been canceled or significantly delayed 17 times this month,” speaker Jenna Crowther said. “There have only been 12 school days so far this month.”
Others said the district needs to take the crisis more seriously.
“I don’t understand why this is not being treated as an emergency, because it is,” said DPS parent Anne Fields. “There are children that are not going to school at all — period.”
Following the announcement, board member Joy Harrell Goff asked if the rotational coverage would likely continue past the three weeks.
“The best answer we can give you is that we sincerely hope this is a short-term fix,” said Larry Webb, the district’s new chief operating officer, who officially starts on Dec. 9.
The school system is also exploring implementing walk zones, according to a notice sent out today by the district. If the plan is adopted, families who live within a one-mile radius of up to 21 elementary schools would no longer receive bus service, and would be expected to transport their children to school.
A notice about the four-day coverage plan went out to parents today and Superintendent Anthony Lewis will host a press conference at 5 p.m. to provide additional details.
Parents may even receive notice from their children, who will be handed note cards by their bus driver about the new plan.
Above: The school board approved the new transportation plan at a meeting Thursday that took place in semi-darkness, due to a power outage. Photo by Lily Kempczinski — The 9th Street Journal
