School bus route suspended: NR-S offering incentives to attract drivers

On Monday, Oct. 10, afternoon service on the northwest bus route for the New Rockford-Sheyenne School District was suspended.

That’s according to an Oct. 3 letter sent by NR-S Superintendent Jill Louters to parents/guardians of students along the route.

The letter, which was obtained by the Transcript from a parent and is published in its entirety on page A2, says the suspension is effective through Friday, Oct. 28.

“At that time I am hopeful that a licensed driver can be secured,” writes Louters in the letter.

The letter does not specify exactly why the decision was made, why the suspension only lasts through Oct. 28, or what happens if a licensed driver is not secured by the end of the month.

In an email response to the Transcript, Louters said several individuals are in the process of procuring their license, and that if a licensed driver isn’t found by Oct. 28, “all options will be reevaluated which will include the suspension of this route.”

As of press time, it was not clear if any kind of interim or permanent solution had been reached.

According to the Oct. 3 letter, the decision to suspend afternoon service for the northwest bus route, as opposed to any other route, is because that route has the least number of riders and because afternoons typically have fewer riders than morning routes.

Louters also states the school has advertised this position in the local newspaper, on Facebook and on their website. The Transcript notes that NR-S has not run an advertisement seeking bus drivers in the newspaper since October of 2021. In fact, newspaper staff reached out to Louters in May about advertising that the district sought route drivers for the 2022-23 school year, and she replied, “Perhaps in the future.”

Nevertheless, multiple parents with students that rely on the bus route after school have expressed their concern about the situation, and are seeking a long-term solution.

Long-term solutions are not easy to come by, however. Attaining bus drivers is a problem plaguing school districts big and small throughout North Dakota.

Before this school year alone, it was reported that school districts in Bismarck, West Fargo, Williston and more were all dealing with a shortage of bus drivers.

The bus driver problem is not new to the NR-S administration either. According to Louters, they've had to rely on multiple drivers on the northwest route for some time.

“Multiple drivers have been supporting the NW bus route,” she said, “including myself for eight of the nine months during the last school year.”

One of the barriers NR-S and other districts have to overcome is training. Drivers require a commercial driver license (CDL) before they can drive a large school bus, which takes time and money.

The school district has considered other alternatives as well. During a regular school board meeting on March 14, discussion was had on whether or not to reimburse parents who choose to transport their children to and from school.

N.D. Century Code gives school boards the option of paying parents a “reasonable sum per day,” for each day their child attends school, provided they live two or more miles away from the public school, are transported to school by an adult of their family, and meet a handful of other requirements.

Discussion of this topic in March did not lead to a motion one way or the other. When asked if the district would reconsider this option in light of recent events, Louters acknowledged that Century Code allows them to do so, but said it’s not currently on the board’s agenda.

At the school board’s regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 10, the current transportation situation in the district was not discussed.

In the letter, Louters says the school is prepared to cover a new driver’s CDL training at the district’s expense, and is offering to pay drivers $80 per route.

“While many districts have canceled transportation indefinitely,” writes Louters in the Oct. 3 letter, “we are grateful for those individuals who choose to support our students by driving, which is a tremendous responsibility.”

Those interested in driving a bus for the school - which could pay up to $800 per week for a driver who covers both a morning and afternoon route each day - are encouraged to contact Superintendent Louters at 701-947-5036 or [email protected].

October 3, 2022

Dear parents/guardians and students,

Beginning Monday, October 10, 2022, we will no longer have afternoon bus service for the Northwest Bus Route. I am suspending this afternoon route through Friday, October 28, 2022. At that time I am hopeful that a licensed driver can be secured.

We have advertised this driving position on multiple venues including the local newspaper and the district website and facebook pages. While many districts have canceled transportation indefinitely, we are grateful for those individuals who choose to support our students by driving, which is a tremendous responsibility. We are currently offering to train drivers, at the district’s expense, and to pay them $80 per route to support our district’s needs. Several individuals have indicated that they would help when the weather season prevents them from conducting outdoor work. However, this too is not an optimal long-term solution.

The decision to eliminate this route is not taken lightly. This route however has the least number of riders and all afternoon routes are lighter than morning routes. Students often stay in town after school for activities or alternative transportation home.

It is my hope that we are able to resume our afternoon service on October 31, 2022. I will notify you of any route change via letter.

Sincerely,

Jill C. Louters

Superintendent