Bus driver shortage doesn’t worry Regina Catholic School Division

The Regina Catholic School Division may be short a few bus drivers as school gets underway, but the division’s spokesperson says the division isn’t worried about it.

Twylla West said there won’t be any shortages for the first week for sure, because the kids are going back in a staggered fashion when classes begin Tuesday.

“We’re confident that everybody’s going to be picked up on time, dropped off on time, or as close to on time as they will be when we’re doing a first run of the buses,” West said.

And West said the division isn’t worried about the second week, saying it has asked any parents to drive their children to school this year if they’re able to do so.

That will make a difference in terms of distancing on the buses to protect against the potential spread of COVID-19.

The company that runs the division’s buses has been looking for more drivers, and West said division officials have shared information with schools that could be affected by a shortage.

She said they just want to be up front.

“This is another situation, another piece of the pandemic, that’s impacting schools and families and so, just in case, we wanted to let everybody know what’s going on,” said West.

She could say why there’s a driver shortage.

“I think that different levels of comfort in getting back to normal may have impacted this and played a role there,” she said.

West explained the division has lots of contingency plans ready in case something does happen.

The division is asking parents to let them know right away whether they’ll be taking their kids to school or whether they’ll be using the bus.