Finding a way to and from school could potentially become more challenging for an estimated 3,000 OPS students next year.Omaha Public Schools has proposed cutting some students from bus routes.The district released recommendations Monday to “improve reliability” for students and families. They also told parents that the district’s transportation partner has not met any of their expectations.Chief Operations and Talent Officer Charles Wakefield say with the current bus driver shortage, they need to change course.”Right now, our parents don’t always know when a bus is going to come because we don’t have drivers for every route. Right now, students arrive to school late because they don’t know what to plan for,” Wakefield said.The proposed changes include the home-to-school distance to be eligible for a ride. “We offer our heartfelt thanks to the drivers who are showing up every day for children. Both we and our contracted partner are hiring,” OPS Superintendent Cheryl Logan wrote in a letter to families. “At the same time, we need to take steps so students have a reliable trip to and from school in the year to come.”Elementary students would have to live at least a mile and a half from their schools. Right now, the distance is one mile. For middle school students, that distance would be two miles, from a mile and a half. High school students will not be impacted. The distance students walk from their homes to bus stops would expand by two blocks. OPS says these were the guidelines for transportation until they were changed in 2015.In October, the school board approved a new contract raising wages for bus drivers but also having harsher penalties for missed routes and late buses.Wakefield says that was not enough.”Those improved salaries helped our provider maintain staffing, but we are not seeing the increase in staffing we would like to see,” said Wakefield. These recommendations will be discussed by the OPS board during its meeting on Dec. 12. If adopted, the district recognizes some students would no longer be eligible for transportation in the 2023-24 school year. The district promises “open communication” with impacted families.“We appreciate the partnership of our families,” Logan wrote. “Every business and professional field is navigating staffing challenges during this time. While these proposed updates may not solve every transportation challenge, our goal is to make transportation more reliable for eligible students and families in the 2023-24 school year.”If families wish to hear the information in person, staff will host four informational meetings in December:Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 6 – 7 p.m. Virtual- Teams live eventWednesday, Dec. 7, 20226 – 7 p.m.TAC Board RoomThursday, Dec. 8, 2022 (Burmese, Karen and Karenni-speaking liaisons available)6 – 7 p.m.Benson High CafeteriaSaturday, Dec. 10, 2022 (Spanish-speaking liaisons available)9 – 10 a.m.South High Auditorium
Finding a way to and from school could potentially become more challenging for an estimated 3,000 OPS students next year.
Omaha Public Schools has proposed cutting some students from bus routes.
The district released recommendations Monday to “improve reliability” for students and families. They also told parents that the district’s transportation partner has not met any of their expectations.
Chief Operations and Talent Officer Charles Wakefield say with the current bus driver shortage, they need to change course.
“Right now, our parents don’t always know when a bus is going to come because we don’t have drivers for every route. Right now, students arrive to school late because they don’t know what to plan for,” Wakefield said.
The proposed changes include the home-to-school distance to be eligible for a ride.
“We offer our heartfelt thanks to the drivers who are showing up every day for children. Both we and our contracted partner are hiring,” OPS Superintendent Cheryl Logan wrote in a letter to families. “At the same time, we need to take steps so students have a reliable trip to and from school in the year to come.”
Elementary students would have to live at least a mile and a half from their schools. Right now, the distance is one mile.
For middle school students, that distance would be two miles, from a mile and a half.
High school students will not be impacted.
The distance students walk from their homes to bus stops would expand by two blocks.
OPS says these were the guidelines for transportation until they were changed in 2015.
In October, the school board approved a new contract raising wages for bus drivers but also having harsher penalties for missed routes and late buses.
Wakefield says that was not enough.
“Those improved salaries helped our provider maintain staffing, but we are not seeing the increase in staffing we would like to see,” said Wakefield.
These recommendations will be discussed by the OPS board during its meeting on Dec. 12.
If adopted, the district recognizes some students would no longer be eligible for transportation in the 2023-24 school year.
The district promises “open communication” with impacted families.
“We appreciate the partnership of our families,” Logan wrote. “Every business and professional field is navigating staffing challenges during this time. While these proposed updates may not solve every transportation challenge, our goal is to make transportation more reliable for eligible students and families in the 2023-24 school year.”
If families wish to hear the information in person, staff will host four informational meetings in December:
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022
6 – 7 p.m.
Virtual- Teams live event
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022
6 – 7 p.m.
TAC Board Room
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 (Burmese, Karen and Karenni-speaking liaisons available)
6 – 7 p.m.
Benson High Cafeteria
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 (Spanish-speaking liaisons available)
9 – 10 a.m.
South High Auditorium
