Because of a shortage of drivers, a few Oxford Community Schools bus drivers are doubling up on routes, which has generated concerns among some parents.
One mother, Andrea Syzmanski, even voiced her concern on social media.
‘Some of you may know that there has been a shortage of bus drivers in the district. I have two children at OES and DA whose routes have been affected. They have come home and told me that there are some kids that have had to sit four to a seat and some have sat on the floor in the back,? she wrote on the Oxford Community Forum Facebook page on March 18.
‘I contacted the board office today, to voice my concern, and was told we need to tell our children to not sit on the floor. They indicated that the bus is a 50-passenger bus and is transporting 65 students. They let me know that this not over capacity because the 50 passenger limit is for sitting two to a seat,? she continued. ‘They said I was only the second parent to contact the board office today. If you have children that have been affected by these route changes, please contact the board office and voice your concerns.?
Oxford School officials told this reporter that the information in the post was ‘inaccurate?
‘We have no 50-passenger buses, our buses are 65-passenger buses,? said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Nancy Latowksi, ‘The drivers know they can’t leave unless a kid is in a seat and they do not allow four to a seat.?
While the majority of Oxford’s fleet is 65-passenger buses, they do have two 71-passenger buses and two 47-passenger buses.
‘We rarely have a bus operating at maximum capacity,? said Oxford Schools? Communications Coordinator Angela Thick.
‘Our runs average about 45 students.? We aim to keep all high school and middle school routes under 55 per bus. And for elementary, most runs are in the 40’s and 50’s per bus, except some Leonard (Elementary) runs that are in the 20’s and 30’s per bus.?
Thick also noted that state guidelines regulate that buses ‘do not transport more than (the) number of persons for which the school bus has a rated seating capacity.?? The rated seating capacity for standard seats is 3 per seat ? many buses have one smaller seat up front which only seats two.
Since the shortage of drivers, Thick said two special education routes have been combined, one elementary run has been split up between two other buses and three high school/middle school have been split up between two other buses.
In the beginning of the school year, Oxford had 33 full-time drivers, one of which was on medical leave and 12 substitute drivers.
Currently, there are 30 drivers, with one on a leave of absence and 10 substitutes. Of the 10 subs ? five work every day, one works every day she is available, and four are out of town or unavailable at this time, according to Thick.
Of the five drivers that have been lost since the beginning of the year, one was fired from the district in February after picking up a hitchhiker along the road with a bus full of students and the other four have come within the last month.
‘Two resigned, one retired, and one took a leave of absence,? Thick said.
‘It’s just like any other kind of staffing that we go through. You lose people, you hire people. That’s a normal process,? Latowski added. ‘Unfortunately, it’s hit the bus garage recently.?
However, the shortage of bus drivers isn’t just an Oxford problem, but a countywide problem, as well,? she said.
‘We’ve been ramping up recruitment efforts to hire bus drivers and there is extensive training that goes along with that,? Latowski added. ‘That’s an effort that (has) been ongoing. We have definitely been training drivers and looking to increase staff.?
According to Oxford Schools? Transportation Coordinator Ann Weeden, there are currently 40 individual bus routes.
‘Our optimal number would be 45 drivers,? Weeden said. ‘That would be for a regular driver on every run and five subs.?
Oxford not only sends buses throughout the Oxford area (Oxford, Addison Township and Village of Leonard), but buses also travel to Metamora, Dryden and Pontiac
‘All of our bus routes pick up in-district students, except two routes that go to Walton Charter (Academy in Pontiac),? Thick said. ‘The Metamora Golf and Country Club area has always been part of an in-district route and a Dryden stop was incorporated into an in-district route.? We also have one bus that travels to Rochester College for OIRA (Oxford International Residence Academy) students.?
However, the bus and driver that transfers Chinese students to and from Rochester College is completely paid for by Oxford’s private partner, the China-based Weiming Education Group.
While Weeden is sympathetic to the concerns some parents have raised due to the shortage of drivers, she said they’re doing the best they can.
‘We know it’s not always a good situation (to have a shortage of drivers),? she said. ‘But we are doing the best we can, trying to get kids safely to school and home everyday.?
Those interested in becoming drivers can contact the Human Resources? support staff at 248-628-5029 or Nancy Latowski at 248-969-5004.