Bus Drivers Needed: Glassboro School District Adjusts Dismissal Times Due To Bus Driver Shortage
GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) -- The first week of school didn't go as smoothly as hoped, so the Glassboro School District is now adjusting dismissal times. In a letter to families, the district says it's been great to have students back but the start of the year was not what they hoped for as they apologized for any busing disruptions and advertise for more bus drivers.
Currently, the district is understaffed by eight drivers, with some resignations taking place right before the start of the school year.
According to Superintendent Dr. Mark Silverstein, similar shortages are taking place throughout New Jersey.
The letter says that beginning Monday they will be altering the regular dismissal times for Glassboro Intermediate School and Glassboro High School to tackle transportation delays.
Glassboro Intermediate School will now dismiss at 1:27 p.m. each day and Glassboro High School will dismiss at 1:40 p.m.
Rodgers, Bullock, and Bowe will dismiss at their regular times.
What started as back-to-school excitement quickly turned into frustration as bus driver shortages in the Glassboro School District left parents in limbo.
"I was thrilled that we were going back to in-person classes and I assumed that I would put my son on the bus," Cristin Kastner Farney said. "Now that a lot of parents are moving to drop off and pick up themselves because of the issues with the school bus it's creating very long lines of cars to get in and out. So for us, the biggest headache has been so far has been picking up our son takes an hour from door-to-door."
The shortfall is causing a logistical nightmare for some in regards to the timeliness of bus pickups and dismissals.
"We were worried what was happening like usually, it's not like that late, school busses don't arrive that late, but that day she got home til like 6-7 o'clock at night. That was like the whole day," Geovanni Hernandez said.
Hernandez says his little sister started kindergarten at the J Harvey Rodgers School this year.
"After that, she didn't wanna go back to school anymore because she said. 'Aw, I'm gonna get home until at nighttime,'" Hernandez said.
The district is also encouraging people, parents, or part-time staff members who are interested in driving for the district to apply for one of their positions.
They will be holding a Special Board of Education Meeting that will address transportation next Monday, Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. You can participate in person at Glassboro High School or virtually.
