Appoquinimink School District has decided to take a more direct approach to ensure the transportation of its students and reduce the strain that the system experienced last school year.
The 2022-2023 school year marks the first year the district will have its own buses and drivers. In previous years, district students were transported to and from school by a group of school bus contractors.
As the fastest-growing district in the state, the need for additional bus drivers and school buses has been a constant issue and nearly became a crisis last year during a national bus driver shortage and local bus driver strike.
Previous coverage:Delaware bus drivers on strike reach tentative agreement with employer, First Student
While the district does not intend to own and operate 100% of its buses, having some district-owned buses proved to be a solution, said Lilian Miles, a spokesperson for the school district.
After approval from the school board in early May, the district’s transportation committee hired eight drivers and purchased eight school buses to meet the needs of the district for the upcoming school year.
Despite an increase in the state funding formula for school bus contractors, two contractors canceled contracts. As a result, the transportation committee requested the school board allow them to purchase additional buses and hire more drivers.
After a vote from the school board, up to 25 additional bus purchases and driver hires were approved. This not only covers the district’s immediate need for 19 buses and drivers, but also provides leeway if they lose any more bus contracts.
Appoquinimink School District currently has 19 drivers locked in, five reserve drivers going through training with an anticipated certification date in mid-September and four driver candidates pending acceptance of their training offers.
The upcoming academic year also marks the beginning of the district’s new school start times. The new schedule was approved by the school board in the spring to reduce the number of school buses on the road at one time and alleviate added stress on the bus system.
More sleep for older students:Adjusting for parents’ concerns, Appoquinimink adopts new school start times, bus schedule
Arrival and dismissal times for all students in the district are as follows:
Middle schools, Grades 6-8, will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:10 p.m. High schools, Grades 9-12, will begin at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. Elementary schools and early childhood centers, Grades K-5, will begin at 9:10 a.m. and conclude at 3:50 p.m.
Students return to school between Sept. 6 and Sept 8.
