During the beginning of the school year, Omaha Public Schools (OPS) encountered many complications with the student transportation system.

The cause of the complications was the transportation system being short staffed. They did not have enough bus drivers to drive school buses to designated bus stops. Due to the lack of transportation staff students were never picked up at their bus stops, students were late to school and students had to ride conjoined bus numbers resulting in students returning home later than expected.

A few glitches and minor complications are typical in the beginning of every school year for bus drivers learning the routes but it’s obvious to say no one expected this from Student Transportation. Superintendent, Mark Evans has been working with the transportation contractor fixing the complications slowly but surely.

“Challenges have decreased significantly from the start of the school year and we continue to work with our contractor to make additional improvements,” Evans said.

Last year OPS paid student transportation nearly 25 million dollars for just general education busing, this year’s figures are not available yet.

OPS is now working with the Council of Greater City Schools for changes and potential improvements for next school year if bus driver shortages occur again. “One specific challenge is that some bus drivers commit to coming back to drive for the school system during the spring and summer. However, a number of those bus drivers did not follow through on those commitments and did not report to work on the first day of school,” Evans said.

Currently OPS-in-house transportation staff members are covering some routes. Chief Transportation also filled in to cover some routes.

“The district is working diligently to get our students to school and back home safely, securely and as close to on-time as possible,” Evans said.