Due to a shortage of bus drivers, public school bus routes in East Hawaii have been temporarily suspended, according to the state Department of Education.
Students who receive transportation as part of their special education services are not impacted, the DOE said.
The suspended routes in East Hawaii are for all grade levels in the Hilo-Waiakea and Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Areas.
These complex areas were those in which the contracted bus provider did not have sufficient drivers in place as of this week.
Among six bus service contractors statewide, an estimated 87 additional drivers are needed to fully staff school bus routes. Over the last school year, 175 school bus drivers statewide have vacated their positions.
The DOE will continue to work with the school bus contractors to restore bus routes and will notify families when routes are restored.
“The shortage of school bus drivers across the nation continues to impact our schools and requires the temporary reduction of bus routes to ensure that bus services can continue for our special education students,” Randy Moore, deputy superintendent of operations, said in a press release. “Working with our contractors to restore the bus routes is critical to support our students’ attendance at school and their learning.”
High school students at East Hawaii schools are able to use the Hele-On county bus system for free with no pass needed. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/HIDOE-EXPRESS.
Mileage reimbursement applications will also be available for parents and guardians who drive their students to and/or from the impacted schools.
Schools will be distributing parent notifications with information on mileage reimbursement and refunds for families that have paid for school bus service.
Each student may select one option: subsidized county transportation via EXPRESS or mileage reimbursement.