HONOLULU –\u00a0The\u00a0continuing shortage of qualified school bus drivers statewide will completely or partially suspend bus transportation services at 10 of\u00a0O\u02bbahu\u2019s\u00a024 high schools and four schools on\u00a0Kaua\u02bbi\u00a0when the new school year begins for students on Monday, August 7.\u00a0The high schools listed below will rely heavily on county bus systems for student transportation in School Year 2023-24:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O'ahu\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kauai<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n All students at these high schools will be provided with subsidized county bus passes to use TheBus on O\u02bbahu and Kauai Bus for transportation as part of the Expanding Ridership to Educate Students in Schools (EXPRESS) program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n High school bus routes on Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island have been modified due to the bus driver shortages, but school bus service will continue. School bus routes on Moloka\u02bbi and Lana\u02bbi are currently not affected. School bus routes on all islands are subject to change should further staffing shortages occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe continued shortage of school bus drivers in Hawai\u02bbi and across the nation requires the temporary reduction of high school bus routes to ensure that bus services can continue for special education and younger students,\u201d said Assistant Superintendent Randy Tanaka. \u201cWe ask our students and families for their continued patience and understanding and we truly appreciate the support of our county partners in making county bus routes a priority option for our students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on student ridership from the last school year, approximately 1,130 high school student bus riders will be impacted on O\u02bbahu and approximately 250 student bus riders on Kaua\u02bbi. Among eight bus service contractors statewide, an estimated 226 additional drivers are needed to fully staff school bus routes. Over the last school year, 76 school bus drivers have vacated their positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the disruptions to the labor force in both Hawai\u02bbi and nationwide caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hawai\u02bbi State Department of Education has reached out to mainland bus operators, tour bus operators, the National Guard and firefighters, among others, to recruit qualified bus drivers. All of these groups were unable to assist due to their own staffing shortages and liability issues. Bus service contractors are continuing to offer hiring bonuses, pay incentives and increased benefits to attract and recruit new drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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