Bus driver shortages pushes district to do rolling cancellations

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With more than 100 bus driver positions left un lled ahead of the school year, the Douglas County School District is moving to rolling cancellations for all bus routes.

Last year, Superintendent Erin Kane called transportation a “pain point” in the district because a lack of sta ng led to frequent day-of cancellations. Going into the 202324 school year, sta ng is down even more than last year.

In an e ort to avoid short-notice cancellations this year, the district surveyed parents and families on various short-term solutions until more sta can be hired.

Paula Hans, spokesperson for the district, said the district understands having rolling cancellations is hard for families and continues to look for solutions. e rolling cancellations will impact all general education routes.

“Of course, we recognize that none of the options were ideal, and we are committed to continuing our driver and assistant recruiting e orts over the course of this year,” Hans said in an email.

Hans said the district’s transportation team will email families in advance to notify them of which routes will be canceled. roughout the school year, each route will run for four weeks and then be o for one week.

Transportation sta ng is down 104 bus drivers and 32 transportation education assistants, who are responsible for monitoring special education students with moderate to severe needs and challenging