In Chandler, a new pilot program aimed at addressing the ongoing bus driver shortage has been launched. Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) has taken definitive steps, approving a series of initiatives meant to attract and keep bus drivers on their routes, as reported by ABC15. The district currently operates with only 160 drivers, though it requires 200 to be fully staffed, leading to cut and double-up routes.
The lack of bus drivers is part of a national trend, with a reported 12% decrease in the workforce since 2019, according to the Economic Policy Institute. In a recent meeting, the CUSD Governing Board approved the pilot program, which includes stipends for drivers managing extra routes and for those covering difficult-to-fill routes. Tom Dunn, the district's executive director for capital projects and operations, told ABC15, “I think over covid, we saw a lot of drivers retire. Our driver pool tends to be second careers so with that, we did see retirements and we haven’t been able to backfill those over the last three or four years.”
Specifically, the program will grant bus drivers stipends for combined routes and includes a proposal to pay out for unused PTO. It also offers an annual stipend, with some drivers seeing an increase of $1,000 or more in their compensation. Trish Dudding, a driver about two decades into her career, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "I'm excited about that and the drivers that have been here and helping, I think that will make them feel great and be happy about it. It's a great idea," in an interview with ABC15.
The initiative is notably funded by the district’s unreserved fund balance and is estimated to cost $600,000. Another aspect of the program, as Citizen Portal outlines, is a one-time $1,000 stipend for current drivers who see the school year through and return for the following year. Ushering in these changes, CUSD hopes to lead the way in solving a problem that not only impacts its community but also districts nationwide.
