Tumwater School District increases number of bus drivers

To avoid school bus delays, the Tumwater School District (TSD) hired 46 drivers for the opening of the academic year and is mulling adding more as consolidated routes are being considered.

Ben Rarick, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations presented the district’s 2023-2024 Transportation Review and the 2024-2025 Transportation Plan at a meeting on August 22.

Rarick explained that the current number of drivers, a “high watermark for the last couple of years,” is also coupled with five alternative licensed drivers on standby.

“There is both the contingency of backup drivers as well as additional staff that are currently pursuing their CDL [Commercial Driver License] so we're not stopping there,” said Rarick.

Transportation Supervisor Dena Jordan was also present during the presentation, along with bus drivers, routers, dispatchers, and mechanics.

Jordan shared that the current number of hired drivers is high, as the district has annually averaged from 29 to 36 after the pandemic.

Consolidated routes for maximum efficiency

The district is also looking at route change reconfigurations to achieve maximum efficiency.

“I understand from just some fact-finding conversations that last fall was not the experience that we are aspiring to in terms of our on-time routes and getting kids to school on time,” Rarick said. “We feel at this point…with some people in the sub-pool, with five people with their CDLs, we have set a goal for the first ten school days to have no late routes.”

This birthed the district’s goals for the first 10 school days—no late routes. To produce results, TSD is setting up a system that counts the daily number of routes and riders, substitutes and backup drivers utilized, drivers sick or absent, and late routes.

Rarick also mentioned that the district placed an order for four buses, which are expected to arrive in the spring or summer of the coming year.

Individuals interested in applying to be bus drivers can submit the interest form. Bus drivers currently earn $23.02 per hour during training, $23.29 as substitute drivers, and $27.41 - $31.24 as drivers.

Tumwater School District is looking for bus drivers.