Staffing problems: The Sahuarita Unified School District had to postpone bus routes for the second time in two years, KGUN’s Blake Phillips reports. Last year, the district didn’t have enough bus drivers to staff the routes. This time around, they have enough staff, but too many of them are on leave at the same time. The district is training more drivers and the bus routes should get back to normal next month. (Nov. 9, 2023)

Who’s driving this bus?: Officials with Sahuarita Unified and Continental Elementary school districts say that while they’ll have enough bus drivers to get students to and from school, but are still looking to hire more, the Green Valley News’ Jamie Verwys reports. Continental is four drivers short of their ideal number, but has substitutes ready to fill in as needed. Continental’s starting hourly pay for drivers of $14 per hour is less than other nearby districts, so officials are looking this year to compensate drivers in other ways.

“What we are trying this year — being a small school district we don't have the same options as larger districts with compensation — we’re trying to offer benefits ...for example, when you hit 30 hours a week you can earn health benefits,” said Continental Elementary School District Transportation Director Stephen Lane. (July 26, 2023)

Not enough drivers: Schools in the Sahuarita Unified and Continental school districts are trying to get enough bus drivers so they can keep all their routes, the Green Valley News’ Jamie Verwys reports. Sahuarita school officials had to suspend 26 routes last November due to a lack of drivers. They’ve hired more since then, but they and Continental officials are still dealing with a nationwide shortage of drivers. Part of the problem, as one school official put it, is “finding a person who’s OK doing a split shift.” (January 17)