Students returned to Widefield School District 3 this week, but the new school year began with a transportation challenge.
“If anyone calls out, we’re in trouble for the day,” said Transportation Officer Jason Schwartz, who manages bus operations for the district.
Schwartz said they currently have 98 drivers, well below the ideal 106. To cover the shortage, existing staff members are stepping in to drive buses.
Fewer drivers mean more children per bus, raising safety concerns. Some students are also delayed when buses make additional stops at other schools, causing them to miss class time.
The district is encouraging parents and retirees to apply. The position is 5.5 hours a day, split-shift, ending by 4:30 p.m., and requires a Department of Transportation physical. Training is provided in-house before candidates obtain a permit.
Widefield is one of the few districts that still uses its own buses for athletic events, and football season is just days away.
“Sometimes behind the scenes we’re having to move mountains to get out there, but we do our best to make sure the kids get where they need,” Schwartz said.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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