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SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) — Some northern Wisconsin school districts say they are facing challenges in transporting students because of bus driver shortages and tight budgets.
About half of the 109 bus companies that responded to a recent survey said the need for drivers is becoming more critical, Wisconsin School Bus Association executive director Cherie Houser said, adding that people don't want to drive buses.
Voyageur Bus Company owner Mike Krois told Wisconsin Public Radio News (http://bit.ly/1QXTpjG ) that he drove extra routes for Superior last week and has covered more than a dozen such routes in the last month. Krois says it's become difficult to find drivers in light of more federal rules for licensing and background checks for drug and alcohol use.
"They keep on making everything stricter as far as compliance goes," said Krois. "We're being choked by regulatory stuff."
Jeff Bowen, owner of Bowen's Bus Service in Rhinelander, cited newer rules requiring a certificate of one's medical status as a reason for why it's difficult for some drivers to get on the road.
"People find they can take a better job somewhere else with a whole lot less responsibility," said Bowen.
Superior School District transportation director Chad Jensema said they've contracted out for bus service a few times a week.
"Everybody who's a school bus operator, whether it's a district or an independent contractor, is having a driver's shortage," said Jensema.
When a driver was ill recently, students from two routes rode together on one bus. Parents voiced concern over the safety of the move, but Jensema said the bus was under its maximum capacity of 71 students.
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Information from: Wisconsin Public Radio, http://www.wpr.org
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