New plan aims to fix state’s school bus driver shortage
The state will address a major shortage of bus drivers causing problems getting city kids back to school by improving the testing process and outreach to attract new hires, Gov. Hochul said on Sunday.
A severe lack of drivers for the city’s sprawling bus system, which relies on a patchwork of private providers, has families scrambling to get their children back to classrooms.
As a remedy for the statewide problem, officials will open up new bus driver testing sites, speed up the testing process and encourage people with appropriate commercial licenses to sign up, Hochul said in a statement.
“Our schools and public health officials have moved mountains to ensure our children receive an in-person education this year, and we are leaving no stone unturned to make sure schools have adequate bus service to bring students to school and back,” Hochul said.
Many retired police officers and firefighters, who have the necessary licenses, drive school buses. Part of the governor’s outreach is aimed at getting more of them to take on the job.
The de Blasio administration tried to play down the bus driver shortage at the start of the school year, even as driver groups sounded the alarm.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181, which represents about 8,000 school bus workers, said it was down about 200 drivers as of last week.
The union and the New York City School Bus Company Coalition had demanded action from the authorities.
“We applaud Gov. Hochul for getting on board the school bus driver shortage crisis, taking the wheel with proactive solutions and driving us in the right direction,” coalition spokeswoman
Carolyn Daly said in a statement on Sunday.
“We look forward to continuing working with the governor to develop long-term strategies to help the school bus industry recruit and retain qualified, certified school bus drivers,” said Daly.
De Blasio’s office did not immediately answer a request for comment on Hochul’s announcement.
Last week, Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan contended there were enough school bus drivers.
“There are always a few problems in the very beginning, but so far, we’re hearing very good things in general,” he said at a news conference on Tuesday.