HONOLULU (KHON2) — With less than two weeks to go until the new school year, there is still a need for bus drivers across the state.
Some parents said they are not comfortable with their kids taking public transportation, and others want more to be done to find a solution.
The school bus driver shortage has been a problem for several years and even required an emergency proclamation (EP) from Governor Josh Green, which was in effect from August 2023 to June 2024.
Last year, the DOE stated bus routes had been fully or partially suspended at 10 high schools on Oahu, and four on Kauai.
The DOE’s new annual contract with bus companies is $84.4 million for routes across the state.
Despite good pay and benefits, some companies still need drivers.
“The starting pay is $32 an hour and we offer paid training and training in house for CDL drivers,” Diana Kaawa-Leopoldo of Ground Transport Inc. said.
On top of the $32/hour for a school bus CDL driver, GTI also has a $3,000 incentive.
Van drivers pay is at $23/hr plus a $1,500 incentive, and van aides are $20/hr plus a $1,000 incentive.
The part-time gig also offers paid vacation, holiday, health insurance, dental and 401k. Ground Transport Inc. was awarded 10 out of the 16 contracts statewide this year.
They said 22 drivers are still needed on Oahu to run at full capacity and 17 are needed on both Hawaii Island and Maui.
The DOE sent over the following list of contracts
Hawaiʻi Island
Hilo and Waiākea Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Honoka‘a, Kealakehe, Kohala, and Konawaena Complexes – Roberts Hawaii School Bus, Inc.
Kaʻū, Kea‘au, and Pahoa Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Kauaʻi
Kapa‘a and Kauaʻi Complexes – Roberts Hawaii School Bus, Inc.
Waimea Complex – Akita Enterprises, Ltd.
Maui and Lānaʻi
Hāna, Lahainaluna, and Lāna‘i Complexes – Roberts Hawaii School Bus, Inc.
Kekaulike Complex – Ground Transport, Inc.
Baldwin and Maui Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Oʻahu
‘Aiea, Moanalua, and Radford Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Leilehua, Mililani, and Waialua Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Farrington, Kaiser, and Kalani Complexes – Roberts Hawaii School Bus, Inc.
Kaimukī, McKinley, and Roosevelt Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Campbell and Kapolei Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Nānākuli and Waiʻanae Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Pearl City and Waipahu Complexes – Ground Transport, Inc.
Castle, Kahuku, Kailua, and Kalaheo Complexes – Roberts Hawaii School Bus, Inc.
The DOE said the current RFP contracts call for 385 CDL drivers, 290 SPED van drivers and 290 SPED bus aides, but haven’t specified on how many drivers are still needed ahead of the school year.
Roberts Hawaii said they do have enough drivers to cover the school year and are always recruiting drivers.
They said they have even expanded to assist private schools since they have additional drivers and can do more routes if needed by DOE.
“Even with the incentives, even with the bonuses, obviously, it’s not working,” Rep. Trish La Chica, vice chair of the house education committee said. “And obviously we can’t continue to repeat what we already know isn’t working.”
Last year, several lawmakers introduced bills to help alleviate the shortage which died last session.
Rep. La Chica introduced a bill authorizing vans and small buses to get kids to school which does not require a CDL license.
“It’s been more than a year now, with dozens and dozens of school routes canceled, it’s certainly unacceptable,” La Chica said. “We want our kids to do their best in school, in athletics, and other extracurricular activities. The last thing we want is for them to have to worry about how to get to school and how to get to school on time and safely.”
Like some Oahu students in 2023, Lahainaluna students living outside West Maui will have to take public transportation to school this year.
“I think for parents it wouldn’t be so bad if it was just a Maui bus for just the students and others cant get on,” explained Courtney Lazo, a Lahainaluna parent.
She mentioned a case a few years back where a man got off the public bus and stabbed someone in the mall bathroom.
“So you don’t know who is there with your kids,” she said. “So Maui County and the State of Hawaii has to really keep their eyes on this and do better, our kids deserve better and the last thing we all want is for them to be traumatized from something that happens when it shouldn’t be happening.”
She said it would be ideal for a private security firm to be hired to be with kids on the bus, or keeping the one route private for students only.
Other parents fear it could add one to two hours onto the commute.
Eligible Lahaina elementary and intermediate students will have school bus services.
High schoolers will have to take the West Maui express from Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului to Lahaina Cannery Mall where a free shuttle will take them up to Lahainaluna.