Gov. Josh Green has extended emergency provisions, cho phép Sở Giáo dục Tiểu bang Hawai'i tiếp tục giải quyết tình trạng thiếu tài xế xe buýt trường học đã làm gián đoạn dịch vụ đưa đón học sinh. Những điều khoản này đã cho phép Sở triển khai các phương pháp vận chuyển thay thế và khôi phục các tuyến xe buýt đã bị đình chỉ trong hai tháng qua, đảm bảo học sinh có thể đi lại an toàn đến và đi từ trường.

“Education of our keiki is an absolute priority,” Governor Green said. “Getting our keiki to their classrooms has always been a state responsibility and remains so, despite challenges brought about by wildfires, other natural disaster, or in this case, a workforce shortage. We enacted the Emergency Proclamation to ensure our children have no barriers to receiving their education.”

Kể từ khi bắt đầu năm học vào đầu tháng 8, Khoa đã khôi phục 100 tuyến xe buýt trên đảo O'ahu, Maui và Hawai'i. Dịch vụ đã được khôi phục cho 88% học sinh bị ảnh hưởng—3.263 trong số 3.720. Các nỗ lực tích cực để khôi phục 38 tuyến đường khác đang được tiến hành.

“We are deeply thankful to Governor Green for extending the emergency proclamation, which has been crucial in mitigating the school bus driver shortage. Thanks to this flexibility, we’ve been able to deploy multiple solutions to restore routes. We also extend our gratitude to the affected schools and parents for their ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to work toward full resolution,” Deputy Superintendent Randy Moore said.

Các emergency proclamation allows for the temporary use of tour buses to transport regular education students, a solution that has enabled school bus contractor Ground Transport Inc. to subcontract with such providers as Polynesian Adventure Tours. This collaboration has been instrumental in filling transportation gaps.

Các proclamation also provides critical flexibility with procurement rules, allowing the Department to contract directly with additional providers like Roberts Hawai‘i to supply buses and drivers in shortage areas.

It further permits Ground Transport to place drivers on school buses before they have fully completed their licensing process. Although full licensure —commercial driver’s licenses with a “P” endorsement to drive passengers and an additional “S” endorsement to drive school buses — is still required for permanent positions, these provisions help speed up the availability of drivers in the short term.

Các emergency proclamation, which has played a vital role in maintaining student transportation services, has been extended through Nov. 30, 2024.