Hamilton school bus shortage gets worse, won't improve until mid-October: HWDSB

Hamilton's school bus driver shortage has become worse since the beginning of September and it's not expected to get better until mid-October. 

According to Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board chair Todd White, 21 routes are facing delays – meaning there's a shortage of 21 drivers – and this isn't expected to get better until Oct. 16 says White.

The good news, according to White, is that this is as bad as it gets.

"We believe at this point that we've bottomed out in terms of the shortage," said White.

By no means are we expressing that this is acceptable, whatsoever- Todd White, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board 

There are currently about 15 drivers in training. If all goes as planned, they'll be on the road Oct. 16.

"We're doing everything we can in the short term to mitigate the delays, but by no means are we expressing that this is acceptable whatsoever," said White. "It's absolutely unacceptable, so that's why our continued focus is trying to solve the short-term problems and then of course ensuring in future years that we don't run into the same problem."  

The approximate number of students impacted has climbed from 1,414 at the beginning of September to an approximate 2,743, according to an update Tuesday.

The delay in the past week has been posted at 16 minutes. Delays of 10 minutes or less are not reported. No routes have been cancelled.

'the whole situation is unacceptable'

A letter from the public board was sent out to parents earlier this week with the resolution date, also thanking them for their patience.

"The school bus companies continue to work diligently to minimize the impact on students and families. Bus companies are combining and sharing routes where possible and bus drivers are assisting by providing additional route coverage to try to reduce the length of the bus delays," said the letter.

White says "the whole situation is unacceptable. As a school board we're committed to getting our students to school on time. We know that's one of the most important factors. If we can't deliver that then there's a serious problem."

White says there are both short-term and long-term solutions for this issue, which plagued the board last year as well.

The short-term solution is to train drivers to receive certification, as well as working with the bus companies, to potentially switch routes between the companies.

There are currently four different transportation providers under contract to provide buses and drivers for the city's public and Catholic school boards and according to White, the issue is with one provider which received numerous resignations at the end of August.

In some areas of Hamilton, flyers are being sent out advertising driving positions. 

We need to have better communication with our bus providers- Todd White, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board 

White says it used to be a monopoly where one company could provide transportation for an entire school board, but after the provincial government changed the system, where no one company could hold more than 40 per cent of a school board's transportation route. This requires boards to have a minimum of three bus companies.

The issue is twofold according to White. Chronic under funding and chronically low wages combined with the structure of the provincial contract process.

The long-term solution is to work with the providers to track the data more accurately.

"We need to track the data better. We need to have better communication with our bus providers. There obviously is a chronic wage funding issue, to say the least. We know that quite clearly," said White.