JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools is making changes to its school bus services to address bus driver shortages and delays for students.
DCPS is contracted with both Student Transportation of America (STA) and Durham School Services for this school year.
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Starting next school year, DCPS will add a five-year contract with Durham from August 2024 through July 2029 after the Duval County School Board voted Tuesday. That contract has Durham taking over at least 220 school bus routes that were previously managed by STA, according to the district. However, STA will still manage 452 routes under contract with the district.
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Durham will provide approximately 10 additional buses to serve the 220 routes.
The change will not affect the current 2023-24 school year and will have no impact on any buses this school year.
According to a report that school board members addressed, STA experienced what it called “significant driver shortfalls.” The school board said bus driver shortages led to multiple delays in students’ travels to and from school that stretch back to the first day of the school year.
The delays caused parental concerns and complaints.
“We would like to improve the quality of the ride for our students. That is why changing the way that we did our proposal, changing the way that we did our solicitation was important so that we can focus on those things that better serve our families and our students,” said Erika Harding, Director of Transportation Operations for DCPS.
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The district is expecting improved performance under the new contract with Durham, which includes plans to recruit and retain bus drivers. The district said there are currently about 56 vacancies for school bus drivers districtwide.