Dear MRH Families,
Thank you for your patience and grace during these challenging times. Education, like many other professions today, is experiencing a severe shortage of workers and the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District is no different. This is true not just for teachers, but also bus drivers, food service workers, and many other support positions that do not require teacher certification. While transportation is being provided, these shortages are creating some stressful and fragile situations which both you and our students are experiencing.
Due to the driver shortages, we have had many delayed routes since the school year has begun. Occasionally, these delays are due to unforeseen circumstances resulting in late-hour notifications to families. Many factors have contributed to our current driver shortage including resignation, retirement and reassignment. We all know that the pandemic has taken a toll on our students and we must continue to partner to identify the best solution. While we work to identify and hire the safest, most qualified drivers available, we felt it is important to share the steps we have taken to address the ongoing transportation concerns:
- Increased pay to become more aligned to regional trends;
- Implemented extra-duty pay incentives;
- Increased advertisement for vacancies across multiple platforms;
- Consolidated bus routes to minimize delays;
- Utilized qualified drivers from other departments; and
- Explored the impact of decreasing the transportation radius
The collective efficacy of our community is what makes MRH a destination district. Many of you have asked how you can assist. The District is committed to solving our driver shortage so that we may improve the efficiency of our bus routes. However, as you reflect upon ways you may assist, I am including several opportunities for your consideration.
- Opt-in to receive District text alerts. Text YES to 67587 from your preferred phone(s).
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Encourage friends and family to apply for current positions.
- Consider driving your child or establishing a carpooling system with other families.
As a district, we are committed to continuing to provide the high-quality, safe transportation services that are a hallmark of our transportation department. Our goal is to continue accommodating the academic and extracurricular transportation needs of all of our students. We will continue to actively recruit additional drivers and will keep you informed if and when we may have to make adjustments to how our transportation services are currently delivered. If you have additional questions or concerns about MRH bus transportation service, please contact your child’s school office or contact the MRH Transportation Office at (314) 446-1724. I look forward to some amazing Blue Devil parents “stepping up” to assist!
In partnership,
Bonita E. Jamison, Ed.D. | Superintendent
Maplewood Richmond Heights School District
2650 S. Hanley Road, Suite 300
Maplewood, MO 63144
Office: 314.644.4400
Pronouns: she, her, hers
