The Jonathan Alder School District continues to explore ways to deal with its lack of bus drivers.
At a board of education meeting Monday night, Superintendent Gary Chapman said the need for more bus drivers to fill its vacant positions, left by a retirement and resignation, is still a concern for the district. He said because of the shortage, the district cut two bus routes from the route total.
“We implemented it on Feb. 4, Monday, and I think it was actually more successful than what we expected,” Chapman said. “Obviously there were hiccups along the way, and we worked through those and made changes when necessary.”
Chapman said the challenges this has brought on “may have changed the bus ride for the individual student,” as some would start seeing more students on their buses. He said the district has been working to communicate with parents as much as possible to “ease that transition.”
He said the district is facing the same challenges other districts experience with their bus drivers.
The superintendent acknowledged the job search for bus drivers has been difficult. He said the district has to compete with other school districts who will pay more money to drivers. He also said it’s a challenge to “find someone who is willing to work early in the morning, work late in the afternoon and have time off during their day.”
“That can sometimes, obviously, create a challenge in someone’s personal life as well,” Chapman said. “I believe it takes a special person to drive a bus, and our bus drivers are special people who do a great job.”
He said the district has posted four different positions since December, but no one has taken the jobs. He said the positions had included variations of the bus driver position, such as hybrid driver and janitorial titles.
Chapman said the district revised the bus driver position during Monday’s meeting, to keep along with the periodic schedule of revising district positions.
Also at the meeting:
-The district has used five calamity days this school year. Chapman said students will start making up class days if the district has to use its sixth calamity day.
-A Nestle grant worth $5,000 was received by the board of education. Chapman said the money will go toward purchasing recess and physical education equipment for Plain City Elementary School, as well as nutrition activities and incentives.
-The district received $10,500 from the Jonathan Alder Education Foundation.
Chapman said the funds will go toward funding zSpace lab equipment in Jonathan Alder High School’s anatomy and biomedical classroom. He said the equipment, one desktop computer, three laptops and human anatomy software, has been requested for the science curriculum for a year, and will offer 3D imaging of human anatomy.
He said he’s hopeful the technology will be available to students by the 2019-2020 school year.
-Rayce Robinson, with the Jonathan Alder Turf Committee, reported that the committee has earned nearly $511,000 in donations for an upcoming stadium turf replacement project. He said the goal is to raise at least $550,000 by April 1, and “we feel good about it.”
-The district reviewed a contract of agreement with Patrick Hickman, operator of record with the Ohio EPA, for $13,260 over the course of six months. Chapman said the Ohio EPA has increased the number of water tests the district has to conduct, which prompts a new water testing contract with Hickman. He said the contract will start March 1.
The next board meeting will be held at Jonathan Alder High School at 6:30 p.m. on March 11.