Hawai’i County, state partner to mitigate effects on Big Island students of bus driver shortage

Hawai‘i County and state officials are taking action following the announcement that the wheels on buses in the Hilo-Waiākea and Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Areas will not go round and round at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year because of an ongoing shortage of drivers.

Mayor Mitch Roth and representatives from the county’s Mass Transit Agency and Hawai‘i Department of Education met Friday to outline immediate steps to mitigate the effects of the temporary suspension of bus routes for all grades in the two complex areas.

“Our keiki deserve consistent and dependable transportation to and from school,” said Roth. “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to finding swift solutions while we continue to work on long-term strategies. We are calling on our community, especially those with [commercial driver’s licenses], to step forward and help ensure that no child is left without a ride to school.”

Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green also on Friday signed an emergency proclamation to bolster school bus services and help public schoolchildren get to and from school.

The emergency proclamation provides flexibility for the state Education Department to find interim solutions for those students impacted by the temporary route suspensions.

The state Department of Education announced Thursday that nearly 2,900 students throughout the islands — including in those two Big Island area complexes — who signed up to catch a school bus to make their way to classes would begin the 2024-25 public school year without a guaranteed ride.

Information was updated Friday, indicating that school bus service for 147 routes on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island will be temporarily suspended, now affecting nearly 3,720 students.

The state Education Department outsources bus services, and its contractors continue to face shortages of bus drivers with the required commercial driver’s licenses.

Because the bus providers in those affected complex areas did not have sufficient numbers of drivers as of this week and classes begin next week, the department temporarily suspended those 147 bus routes to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities, whose services will not be impacted.

An estimated 87 additional drivers were needed throughout the state as of Thursday’s announcement to fully staff school bus routes. Since last school year, 175 school bus drivers quit.

County and state officials on Friday identified public transportation routes on the Big Island that can temporarily accommodate students and be adjusted in the short term to prioritize student access in East and South Hawai’i.

Those routes have been designated specifically for students to use during school hours.

Additional stops might also be added to existing Hele-On, the county’s bus system, to ensure safe and reliable student transit to and from school.

For more information about the identified public transportation routes for Big Island students, visit the Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit Agency website.

Officials also are urgently appealing to CDL holders on the Big Island to fill critical bus driver roles, and the county is collaborating with the state to expedite the hiring process for new drivers willing to join the effort.

People with a current CDL who are interested in becoming a school bus driver are encouraged to contact the state Education Department for more information about how to apply.

Ground Transport Inc. is also offering competitive compensation and benefits to attract qualified candidates.

The state and its contractors are concurrently exploring long-term solutions, including subsidizing CDL training programs for residents interested in becoming school bus drivers and enhancing recruitment efforts locally.

“We recognize the challenge and hardship this creates for parents and schools,” said state Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “Getting all of our students to school each day is a very high priority, and we are working to restore service as soon as possible. We appreciate Mayor Roth and Hawai‘i County mobilizing quickly to provide support and solutions to provide alternate transportation and recruit qualified drivers.”

Mileage reimbursement applications will also be available for parents and guardians who drive their students to and/or from the impacted schools, which will distribute information about mileage reimbursement and refunds to families who paid for school bus service.

“The reliance on outsourced contractors and the lack of sufficient bus drivers have led to an annual crisis that disrupts our students’ education and daily routines,” said O‘ahu state Rep. Trish La Chica, who represents one of the complex areas on O‘ahu impacted by the route suspensions. “I am particularly concerned about the impact on elementary and middle school students, who rely heavily on these services for safe and timely transportation. It is critical for [Department of Education] leadership to take immediate and effective action to address these issues.”

She will work with Green’s administration to find immediate solutions for the affected families, but long-term policy changes are essential to prevent future disruptions.

“I plan to work with all stakeholders to ensure a reliable transportation plan for all students,” La Chica said. “The [Department of Education] must prioritize the needs of our students and families and develop a sustainable solution.”

The state Education Department will continue to work to restore the suspended bus routes and notify families when they are restored.

Bus service contractors also are continuing to offer hiring bonuses, pay incentives and increased benefits to attract new drivers. For employment opportunities, click here.