Asheville Schools Face Bus Driver Recruitment Challenge

Students boarding a school bus in Asheville

News Summary

Asheville County Schools is facing a pressing challenge to recruit bus drivers as student enrollment rises significantly. With 1,903 students relying on school transportation, the demand has increased, stretching bus route capacities. The school district is exploring unconventional solutions, including possibly allowing more faculty to drive buses. Meanwhile, Buncombe County Schools confront a similar situation, implementing an incentive program to address its bus driver shortage. The ongoing recruitment efforts emphasize the need for reliable student transportation amidst changing post-pandemic dynamics.

Asheville is currently facing a significant challenge as Asheville County Schools actively works to recruit bus drivers to meet the needs of an increasing number of students reliant on school transportation. At present, a total of 1,903 students are registered to ride buses across all Asheville City Schools, marking a substantial rise from last year’s enrollment of 1,600. This current figure represents the highest enrollment seen since before the pandemic and has put considerable pressure on the transportation system in place.

Amanda Rigsby, the Transportation Director for Asheville County Schools, has noted that a key factor in this uptick is the enhanced confidence among parents in allowing their children to use school transportation again. This newfound trust has led to increased reliance on bus services, subsequently stretching the existing capacities of the school system’s bus routes. At present, some buses are tasked with serving two elementary schools and additional routes for secondary campuses.

The school district is currently operating at or near capacity on several of its bus routes. In response to this situation, Rigsby has been proactively engaging with parents, discussing the importance of filling bus driving positions even in unconventional settings such as local grocery store lines. Currently, there are no school staff outside of designated drivers stepping in to assist with transportation; however, the district is contemplating allowing more faculty members to take on driving roles to alleviate the shortage.

To aid parents during this transitional period, Asheville County Schools has employed the use of the Chipmunk bus-tracking app, a tool designed to keep families informed as bus routes adjust to accommodate the rising number of riders. This feature allows parents to stay up to date with their children’s transportation, enhancing overall communication and efficiency.

The situation in Buncombe County is similarly concerning, as Buncombe County Schools are also grappling with a bus driver shortage, currently facing a deficit of more than 20 drivers. To address this issue, staff members, including principals and teachers, have taken on the added responsibility of driving buses. The district has initiated a recruitment and retention strategy that includes an incentive program offering drivers a monthly bonus for extra routes, ranging from $100 to $200.

In total, Buncombe County Schools operate between 205-210 buses daily, but the transportation department is striving to increase this figure to 230 buses in order to better serve the heightened demand for student transportation. The ongoing recruitment efforts underscore a growing concern for both districts as they strive to meet the needs of families seeking reliable transportation for their children.

The overarching issue of bus driver shortages amidst rising enrollment highlights the increasing pressures on school transport systems, not only in Asheville County but also in neighboring Buncombe County. As families adjust to the post-pandemic landscape, the demand for effective and efficient student transportation solutions has become paramount.