SAN ANGELO – The San Angelo Independent School District will start classes next week without enough bus drivers to run all routes, so some students who need to ride a bus to school will not have that option.
According to the SAISD, like school districts and businesses across the United States, San Angelo ISD is also experiencing an unprecedented bus driver shortage and increased student ridership.
SAISD is addressing the shortage with a temporary delay of bus transportation for our high school students, in grades 9-12, at Central High School, Central High School on Oakes, and Lake View High School for the first two weeks of school.
We currently have eight bus routes without drivers for the start of the school year, and are looking to hire 12 bus drivers for the 2022-2023 school year. Transportation for high school students will resume Tuesday, September 6, 2022 after the Labor Day holiday.
There will be no change to elementary and middle school bus routes.
San Angelo ISD administrators and board members are diligently working on a solution to our bus driver shortage. On Monday, August 15, 2022, the SAISD Board of Trustees will consider and vote on a recommendation by the administration to increase bus driver starting pay from $15 per hour to $20 per hour.
We understand the inconvenience this temporary change will cause our families. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we look to resolve this challenge. To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, follow the SAISD Facebook, Twitter, and website, www.saisd.org.
Comments
Last year, if memory serves, we came across this issue but instead it was due to teacher and substitute shortages right or wrong? And if I remember correctly the students, again the High School students, were given two weeks or so virtual classes due to the teacher shortage. Maybe it was another school district but wouldn't it be easier for the parents who struggle with transportation and the students risking tardiness or having a missed day because they could not get to class on time to do a 2 week virtual classes for the High School students? IF attendance is important to help build up their credits wouldn't this make it easier than to risk so many absences at the beginning of the school year?
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