News Summary

The Mat-Su Borough School District has canceled numerous bus routes due to a significant driver shortage, affecting around 42 routes out of 550. Cancellations occurred primarily on Thursday and Friday, leaving parents scrambling to manage logistics. Although no new cancellations were reported the following Monday, the driver shortage remains a pressing issue. Similar challenges have been faced in the wider region, prompting school districts to seek alternative solutions. Efforts are underway to recruit and retain drivers to prevent further disruptions to student transportation.

Wasilla, Alaska: Major Bus Route Cancellations Due to Driver Shortage

The Mat-Su Borough School District has canceled dozens of school bus routes over the last week, primarily due to a severe shortage of drivers. The majority of these cancellations occurred on Thursday and Friday of the previous week, affecting approximately 42 out of the district’s 550 daily bus route segments. The disruptions have raised concerns among parents struggling to manage their work and family logistics.

A spokesperson for the district indicated that these cancellations were largely attributed to driver absences, with insufficient standby drivers available to fill in. While this means less than 4% of the district’s bus routes were impacted at this time, the late notifications—often communicated just hours before scheduled pick-up times—have left many parents feeling exasperated. One parent noted the significant difficulties these changes create for families attempting to coordinate school schedules with their own work commitments.

On the following Monday, the district reported no additional cancellations, suggesting a possible improvement in the situation. However, the ongoing driver shortage is linked to several factors, including leaves of absence and unplanned call-offs among drivers employed by Durham School Services, the district’s contracted bus provider since 2022 under a nearly $200 million contract. Durham has stated that efforts are underway to bring back some drivers and to train new hires, which may alleviate the situation soon.

Historical Context of Driver Shortages

The Mat-Su Borough School District faced a similar challenge last August, leading to the cancellation of regular education routes at the start of the school year. In the wider region, the Anchorage School District experienced a significant bus driver shortage as well, implementing a rotating bus schedule that impacted many families. This schedule allowed only a fraction of their eligible students—around 7,000 out of 20,000—to receive transportation at a given time. Under this system, general education bus routes were divided into three cohorts, with each cohort receiving service for three weeks followed by a six-week suspension.

Exceptions to these suspensions have been made for special education routes and students living within 1.5 miles of their schools. Both school districts have encouraged parents to either drive their children to school or arrange carpools to navigate these challenges. In response to the driver shortages, the Anchorage School District has also introduced a $2,500 incentive for new drivers and an additional $500 for bus attendants during the first semester, yet the difficulties in recruitment remain acute.

Looking Ahead

The contract between the Mat-Su Borough School District and Durham School Services is set to extend until June 30, 2032, placing significant emphasis on improving driver recruitment and retention to prevent further disruptions. The Alaska National Guard has indicated that it is unable to assist with the transportation issues due to legal constraints surrounding militia deployment for civilian purposes. This leaves local school districts to seek alternative solutions to relieve the burden on families facing ongoing transportation challenges.

With approximately 375 open positions across the Anchorage School District, encompassing various departments beyond transportation, the quest for stability in bus services remains a pressing concern. As school resumes following the recent cancellations, both districts continue to seek effective responses to address these persistent staffing shortages.

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Additional Resources

• Alaska’s News Source: Driver Shortage Hits Mat-Su Students
• Wikipedia: School Bus
• Anchorage Daily News: National Guard Unable to Help with Bus Driver Shortage
• Google Search: School Bus Driver Shortage
• School Transportation News: Driver Shortages in Alaska
• Google Scholar: School Bus Driver Shortage
• Anchorage Daily News: ASD Bus Routes Suspension
• Encyclopedia Britannica: School Transportation