Members of the Rochester School Board got a little more clarity Monday night about where things stand with a severe shortage of bus drivers.
The driver shortage has been described as a crisis by various people in the district. The district is short dozens of bus drivers, some of whom have concerns about working during the pandemic, an issue that's also hampering districts nationwide. The Rochester City School District has already pushed the start of school back one day, to Thursday.
Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small said the goal is to get as many kids back in school when it reopens as they can, although it is possible some students may have to learn remotely until transportation issues can be sorted out.
At Monday night’s board meeting, Myers-Small was asked about some parents who have asked whether their children can opt out of in-classroom instruction, and just learn remotely for the upcoming school year. She said that’s not an option for most students.
“While I recognize that parents are concerned and I certainly take that to heart, and I don’t take that lightly, the best place for students to be, is in school, in person, and we have worked very diligently to ensure that happens,” she said.
Myers-Small also cited state and federal guidance, along with the medical community, urging in-person instruction as the best situation for students.
The district is working with RTS to get transportation for students from several high schools, but that arrangement is not expected to be in place until next week, so about 2,600 of those students may have to start school online unless they can provide their own transportation.
It’s a similar story for about 144 K-8 students, but there are also community efforts to get rides for the affected students and Conkey Cruisers is helping out by providing some free bicycles.
New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, who was on the online meeting Monday night, said getting kids back to school is going to be a community effort.
“My hope is that collectively, not only the board, obviously all the commissioners, the community not only responds, but understands that this is a collective effort to get our kids back in school,” said Rosa, who also indicated her agency, along with the governor’s office and other elected officials are working together to help Rochester.
RCSD on Monday also sent a letter to families of School No. 10, School No. 17 and School No. 22 letting them know that because of the driver shortage the district will eliminate transportation for students who participate in the Walker-Bus Program and live within 1.5 miles of their school. Board member Beatriz LeBron is concerned about the impact of that decision on younger kids this fall.
“Some of these schools are going to be ending at four o’clock and it’s going to be dark out by four o’clock especially as we go into the fall and winter in Rochester, and I’m just curious about how far a six-year-old is going to be walking in the dark?” LeBron said.
Myers-Small said that the administration is working to provide more information at community meetings about steps the district can take to help those students get to school safely.
The Rochester School Board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and they are expected to get some more information about the district's plans for transportation.
Officials at Rochester City Hall said on Monday that four City R-Centers will extend hours Wed., Sept. 8, to support families due to the delayed opening of RCSD schools
The following locations will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.:
Adams St. R-Center --85 Adams St.
Edgerton R-Center-41 Backus St.
Thomas P. Ryan R-Center--530 Webster Ave.
Trenton & Pamela Jackson R-Center (Clinton-Baden) 485 N. Clinton Ave.
All City R-Centers will return to after school hours on Thur., Sept. 9, when all RCSD schools will be open.
