Driver Shortage Forces District To Modify Bus Routes

A shortage of bus drivers has forced the Crawford County R-1 School District to modify the routes.

Route 3 has been eliminated and four routes were modified.

The change will start the first week of October.

Transportation Administrator Jessica Becker told the school board on Thursday that they are unable to fill a full-time route for the year.

The district is seeking a full-time substitute. The current routes are unsustainable due to sporting/activity events and employee absences.

Bourbon is eliminating one route, which Becker said could be a temporary solution.

Applications remain open and the routes could change again if they are able to fill needed spots.

“We are absolutely looking,” Becker said.

Becker said the routes remain under capacity, but they are close to reaching it.

Administrators considered the idea of bringing in one group of students early, dropping them off and going back out again, but Becker said they decided against it because of supervision concerns.

Students would have to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before school starts and stay 20 to 30 minutes after it dismisses.

Becker said they made slight adjustments to Route 9, which is a Leasburg route. 

Route 14, which begins pickup on Highway C, was slightly adjusted.

Route 21 is a new route and heads out to Highway N.

Route 27 is a mix of old and new. It begins on East Pine.

Becker said they will be information families of the new route information and pick-up/drop-off times.