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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Bus-ting Out: CUSD Transportation Supervisor Clint Akuff, left, and Senior Mechanic Jon Carone have been filling in as temporary bus drivers during the district's driver shortage.
Schools face bus driver shortage
CUSD struggling to keep buses running while running short on drivers
By Steven Raphael
The wheels on the bus go round and round--but only when there's a driver at the wheel.
Finding drivers to keep those wheels turning is harder than it used to be, which has left Campbell Union School District facing a critical shortage of bus drivers.
"We always manage somehow," said transportation supervisor Clint Akuff. "But, we haven't been at this critical a stage that I can remember."
The district is two drivers shy of its usual full staff of 13 drivers, but there's also another wrench in the system. Two of the drivers on staff are brand new, and will not be fully trained for another six weeks. That actually leaves the district short four drivers.
Luckily, bus routes haven't suffered much so far because Akuff, two mechanics and a substitute driver have stepped in to fill the void.
This is a precarious situation, however, because if any driver misses work, there isn't anyone left to take his or her route.
"We're racing our training program against the winter illnesses," Akuff said.
And CUSD can't even appeal to other districts for help; everybody is struggling. Representatives from Campbell Union High School District and Moreland School District both say, although they are fully staffed, they are still recruiting drivers.
"I would say the shortage is probably industrywide," said CUSD Transportation Supervisor Paul Nagle. "There just aren't enough certificated drivers."
Moreland Superintendent Jim Ritchie agreed. "The job market is tight," he said. "We have a hard time finding drivers. Frankly, we're always looking for another driver."
Hiring drivers is an uphill battle, especially in Silicon Valley. With students parked in class all day, most buses are also parked during the day. That means drivers only work four hours a day: two hours in the morning to get kids to school by 8:30 a.m. and two in the afternoon to get them home.
And since drivers start at $12.90 an hour, it can be a bit tricky to earn a living.
"You can make more driving vegetables than you can driving kids," Akuff said. "When you're working for a public entity, you're not going to make as much as if you work for private industry. The more it becomes expensive to live here, you just can't do it."
Akuff suggests the job might be perfect for college students, leaving their day free for class. But, he's quick to give the green light to anyone who likes kids and isn't intimidated by the idea of driving a bus.
Meanwhile, the district is coping as best it can. By consolidating routes, each driver is able to cover a slightly larger area with only minimal delays to students. Akuff said the afternoon routes have been delayed by up to 15 minutes, and the district has worked hard to keep morning buses on time.
"We don't want to have the kids standing at their stops," he said.
If illness strikes drivers, the situation could get worse. The remaining drivers will be forced to double back, dropping off one load of kids before returning for another. Akuff estimates that routes might run up to a half an hour late.
He said the district will choose which stops to delay based on the availability of supervision. If morning delays are necessary, pickups from other school sites, where teachers can supervise kids, would be the best choice.
"I've never been put in this type of situation and I've been driving for 21 years," Akuff said.
For more information or to apply for a bus driver position, contact CUSD personnel department at 408.364.4200.
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Campbell, California
