Citing a bus driver shortage and social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for school buses, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools officials say some students may not have transportation when school starts on Aug. 4.
Those students most in jeopardy of losing school bus transportation are those attending choice schools.
In SCCPSS, choice programs are offered at 25 schools (elementary, middle and high) to "provide students with a diverse portfolio of educational options," according to the district website. Students must apply — usually in the spring for the next school year — have at least a B average for the previous three semesters, and self-report satisfactory behavior. The GMAS score requirement was waived for 2021-22 due to COVID-19. Choice schools hold lotteries among all applicants and create wait lists if necessary.
SCCPSS sent out an email to its families Tuesday afternoon alerting parents of a registration system that will become available next week to prioritize student ridership and begin the process of establishing bus routes. The registration system opens July 9.
Of the district's 36,000-plus students, about 25,000 depend on school buses.
Families with students identified as "Priority 1" students are the only ones guaranteed bus transportation. "Priority 1" students include those with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 that requires special transportation services, English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and McKinney Vento (homeless) students.
"In a traditional school year, 290 to 300 drivers are required to transport 25,000 students who utilize transportation. Current driver staffing levels available for active transport (after staffing reserve) is 217," the district release stated. "SCCPSS will not be able to offer transportation services at the same levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Route availability will be balanced based on student and staff safety, staffing capacity, and the ability to offer on-time arrivals."
The district recently began an advertising campaign to recruit and hire more bus drivers. According to Tammy Perkins, the district's lead director of transportation, the school system normally employs approximately 300 drivers, including substitutes. Full-time drivers work 25 hours a week.
Registered students will be prioritized for transportation based on the following:
• Priority 1: Those with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 that requires special transportation services, English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and McKinney Vento (homeless) students.
• Priority 2: Zoned elementary school and K-8 students
• Priority 3: Zoned middle- and high school students
• Priority 4: Choice elementary and K-8 students
• Priority 5: Choice middle- and high school students and alternative education students
Students who attend choice schools are lower priority for transportation and will not be offered transportation at this time, according to the district.
Reaction from parents was swift. Parents have posted concerns on various Facebook pages saying they may have to withdraw their child from a choice school due to the lack of transportation.
However, the district is clear on its transportation offerings for choice school students. On the choice program information guide on the district website at sccpss.com, transportation "is subject to change based upon available resources."
"We just have reached the point where the resources are not available to provide those services. We are making the announcements as early as we possibly can to give families an opportunity over the next few weeks to make some adjustments and arrangements for their students," Perkins said.
Similarly, students who attend district charter schools — and are not in Priority 1 — are also not offered transportation.
Some parents have already begun reaching out via Facebook to form carpool groups. "I created this [page] to connect working parents and stay-at-home parents in hopes of helping with car pool rides," wrote Christin Rouse on a new Facebook group, "SAA Carpool Board" at bit.ly/3ybjKp4. "I can do drop off in the mornings. However, I need someone to pick up in the afternoons."
School Bus Drivers needed
Barbara Augsdorfer is the education and nonprofits reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach her at BAugsdorfer@gannett.com or on Twitter @Babs7983.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Some Savannah-Chatham students may not have a bus in the fall. Here's why.
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