In an effort to address ongoing transportation challenges, Independence Local Schools has released updated bus route proposals for the 2025–2026 school year. The district, which currently lacks the staffing to resume high school transportation, is evaluating several options to streamline operations while maintaining student safety and accessibility.
Last school year, the district operated six in-district routes and one special education route, along with two out-of-district routes for students attending private schools. However, with the retirement of two drivers and a total of just seven available drivers, high school busing remains suspended unless staffing increases.
One major proposal included instituting a walk radius, ranging from half a mile to two miles, to reduce the number of students requiring transportation. A two-mile walk radius would eliminate four bus routes and bring the number of required drivers down to five—allowing high school transportation to potentially resume. However, this option comes with concerns about student safety due to major road crossings.
In a “no walk radius” scenario, resuming high school busing would require at least one additional full-time driver, bringing the total needed to eight. The district is also evaluating modified school start and end times to allow for more efficient route coverage.
Additionally, if high school busing resumes, the district would no longer have enough drivers to provide transportation for out-of-district students. This would result in an estimated $37,000 in annual payments to families of private school students in lieu of transportation.
To combat the staffing shortage, the district has expanded its recruitment efforts, including a $2,000 referral bonus, increased community outreach, and the use of social media to attract applicants. A booth will also be set up during Home Days to encourage residents to consider driving for the district.
Given the current staffing levels, the district’s only viable option at this time is to implement group bus stops. They are actively working to recruit additional drivers, with the goal of resuming high school busing and reducing the need for as many group stops in the future.
Review the complete presentation here.