A shortage of school bus drivers continues across the nation, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a nationwide survey released Aug. 31, 2021, more than half of student transportation coordinators reported bus driver shortages were a problem.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services and National School Transportation Association conducted the joint survey of America’s shortage of school bus drivers.

According to the survey, 51% of respondents described their driver shortage as “severe” or “desperate.” Roughly three-quarters of all respondents (78%) also indicated the school bus driver shortage is getting “much worse” or “a little worse.” Approximately two-thirds of all respondents (65%) indicated bus driver shortage is their No. 1 problem or concern. Only 1% of respondents indicated bus driver shortage is not a problem for them.

NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin said as school districts across the country returned to in-person learning, COVID continued to have an impact on education in general and school transportation scheduling and logistics in particular.

“The shortage of school bus drivers has become conspicuous, but let’s be clear, this is not a new problem nor it is easy to solve,” Martin said.

The number of school bus drivers across Jackson County has been dropping, too, according to representatives from Brownstown Central Community School Corp. and Seymour Community School Corp.

Brownstown Superintendent Tim Taylor said there has been a bus driver shortage for some time now.

“We’re a bit short right now and have combined some of our routes and condensed what might’ve been two routes at one time into one,” Taylor said. “We have a few guys driving extra portions of routes to make up for routes where we’re short drivers right now.”

Taylor said they have 15 regular drivers right now, and last spring, they took a couple of drivers and combined them with other routes.

“We still have some routes we don’t have drivers for, so we have other drivers picking up those routes to make sure students can get to school,” he said.

Taylor said they have just a few substitute drivers, and they are hoping to hire more sub and regular drivers.

“Our drivers have just been absolutely fantastic with stepping up and helping each other out and making sure we get everything covered each day,” he said. “A few retired drivers have come back to help where needed, too.”

Taylor said it used to be that people with a flexible work schedule outside of the school were able to drive buses, and perhaps their work schedules aren’t as flexible anymore.

“Driving a bus is a huge responsibility, and not only do you have to get from Point A to Point B safely, but you’ve got everyone’s pride and joy in that bus that you have to get to their destination safely,” he said. “The federal requirements for getting a bus driving license has changed and has increased quite a bit, so there’s more involved now.”

The current pay for new bus drivers at Brownstown schools is between $97.60 and $105.97 for four hours per day, Taylor said. Anyone interested in becoming a driver or sub can call the administration office at 812-358-4271.

“We have a lot of good people on our staff, but we could sure use some more,” he said.

Seymour Transportation Director Tim Fosbrink said he also has a bus driver shortage and believes other schools throughout Indiana and other states are dealing with the same problem.

“There’s the minimum wage raises and everything else, so it’s hard to find employees, and another kicker was COVID,” he said. “It started sometime last year, and it’s not uncommon to have seven or eight subs driving in a single day.”

Right now, Seymour has 34 bus drivers assigned to daily routes, and there is one route that’s open.

“Last year, we got six new drivers trained and ready to go, and three of them took routes, and the other three only want to sub,” Fosbrink said. “That means they only want to do field trips or they can only do either mornings or afternoons.”

He said only three drivers retired last year, so that has worked out pretty well.

“We have had one more retire at the start of this school year and two new drivers at this time,” Fosbrink said. “One wants a route once their training, probation and everything else is done, and the other one wants to sub, but there are a few others in training right now, but it will be a few more months before they’re ready.”

He said most of his subs are retired bus drivers, and he’s a firm believer that if you treat people right, they’ll help you out when you need it.

“That definitely shows right now because we’ve had as many as eight different retired drivers driving this school year already at some point in time, and they’ve basically saved us,” Fosbrink said. “I’m running my mechanics and everybody that I possibly can who has a CDL to drive the buses.”

He said he needs people with a Class B CDL with air brake, passenger and school bus endorsements and also requires a three-day school offered by the Indiana Department of Education and a clean driving record.

“We provide all of the training, and our sub rate starts at $85.50 a day for three to four hours a day and $15 an hour for field trips, which is pretty good money,” he said.

Fosbrink said anyone who might be interested in being a regular bus driver or a sub can call him or Assistant Transportation Director Jon Claycamp at 812-522-8579 or stop and see one of them at the old administration building.