Local schools address bus driver shortage

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - A new school year is right around the corner and districts are still struggling with transportation for students.

Bus driver shortages are a nationwide issue and it’s also impacting districts here in northwest Ohio. Some of the districts 13 Action News spoke with say they don’t have an active shortage, but rather are training substitutes to be prepared for when they need positions filled. Others, however, are taking it a step further and taking the issue into their own hands.

Otsego is one local school district who has struggled.

“Like all schools, we are short on bus drivers. We need substitute bus drivers to help with our daily routes, but especially our after-school activities, our sports,” said Eva Vasher, director of operations at Otsego Local Schools. “Many of them need to leave at 2:45 when our regular drivers are still out on their bus routes, so makes it very difficult to get students to sporting events, quiz bowl, any sort of after-school activity.”

OLS Superintendent Kevin O’Shea has taken matters into his own hands to help by getting his CDL certification.

“We had a lot of need when people would call off or we needed something filled or a trip covered,” said O’Shea. “It just felt weird not being able to help.”

Another impact of these shortages is transportation to private and charter schools, a requirement of public schools.

“We have eight Perrysburg school buildings that we transport to. We bus, every single day, to 19 non-Perrysburg school buildings that are outside the district because of that law,” said Tom Hosler, superintendent of Perrysburg Schools. “Finding the drivers, allocating the buses, doing those kinds of things are really a drain on what we can do and how we can provide that service.”

For Lorrie Mayer, who has been a bus driver for over 35 years, it’s more than just a service -- it’s all about connecting with the kids.

“That I think is probably my favorite part because you develop relationships with a lot of these kids, especially when you drive the same route over and over again every year,” said Mayer. “I kind of feel like their grandmother.”

Leaders of each school district 13 Action News spoke with say they believe one of the challenges of recruiting people for this job is the split shift, which consists of coming in for a few hours in the morning, leaving, then coming back for a few more hours and leaving again for the day.

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