Bixby Schools Changing Bus Routes Due To Bus Driver Shortage

There’s no snow on the ground and Thanksgiving break is still weeks away, but Bixby Public Schools is silent. That's because classes are canceled. There’s no school on Wednesday for Bixby Public Schools because of a shortage of bus drivers. 

The district used the day to teach the drivers that they have to cover more ground to make up for the shortage the best they can. 

Related Story: Tulsa Public Schools Offering Recruitment Bonus For Bus Drivers

News On 6's Ashlyn Brothers rode along with the Director of Transportation to learn more about how they’re trying to make the best of a tough situation. 

"We're not just short bus drivers like many districts. We're short paraprofessionals, teacher's assistants, child nutrition workers, custodians,” said Superintendent Rob Miller, Bixby Public Schools. 

Superintendent Rob Miller said they've had to enlist the help of admin assistants, mechanics, and coaches to run the bus routes, but this week was the tipping point. Eight drivers are either out sick or out for personal reasons. 

"We're actually in pretty good shape in terms of having bus drivers but we don't have a pool of substitutes because of the licensing requirements,” said Miller. "Unlike businesses, we can't just raise the pay of all of our employees and pass that onto the customer. We can't just close lobbies or close schools. We've got to continue to operate as best that we can." 

School is in session for bus drivers who are taking Wednesday to learn additional routes and an alternate schedule. 

"There's probably about three, four hours training total that we'll be doing,” said Erich Anderson, Director of Transportation. 

Related Story: Bixby Schools Closed Wednesday Due To Bus Driver Shortage

The Director of Transportation said they've been down this road before. 

"The drivers enjoy doing this, I mean it's, we know we're here to support each other, help each other out but you see that almost every day with when you know something goes wrong,” said Anderson. 

Students and staff will come back to school tomorrow and for the next 7 days, there will be three to four bus routes daily that won't run. 

"We'll stagger that so that all of our families whose children ride buses will not be impacted for more than one day,” said Miller. 

Miller said drivers need to learn the layout of each neighborhood, where the stops are, and how drop-off works at various schools. 

"Just knowing even the traffic flow on some of our busy streets here in Bixby. Knowing where you can turn left and where you can't turn left. Where there's gonna be cars, maybe in the street where you're gonna have to navigate a little bit more carefully. And then knowing how to get in and out of our schools effectively so they can drop kids off and get them in an efficient manner and get back on the road," said Miller. 

Neighboring districts like Tulsa, Owasso, and Jenks Public Schools are also experiencing driver shortages. TPS is offering a $500 bus driver new hire bonus. 

To read more about the school closing and the new bus routes and schedule for Bixby, CLICK HERE.