MINNEAPOLIS — It's an ongoing problem that many parents can't help but notice.
There is a bus driver shortage nationwide and that includes Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota School Bus Operator's Association, at the beginning of the school year, there were as many as 1,500 vacancies for drivers statewide.
To help cover routes, school district employees were pulled from their regular jobs.
Safety directors, mechanics, and dispatchers got behind the big wheel for the first time.
As a result, buses were late and parents were concerned.
But as the end of the school year approaches, is there still as much of a need for bus drivers?
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says, to date, there are almost 900 more licensed school bus drivers than there were in 2017.
However, there is still a need for drivers.
In fact, the Minnesota School Bus Operator's Association is still posting advertisements for drivers.
Several bus companies are recruiting drivers as well.
In a cursory search on Indeed.com, KARE 11 found 530 listings for bus driver jobs across Minnesota.
Meanwhile, according to Transportation Services, Minneapolis Public Schools need 43 drivers.
In St. Paul, Transportation Director Tom Burr says the public school district is 50 drivers short per day.
"The job is getting done, but the coverage hurts in different areas," Burr said. "People are being taken out of their day-to-day roles, and their work backs up. This is how we started the school year and we haven't been able to move the needle."
But why?
One reason is that the economy is doing well, which means people have more options for work.
And for the same reason, Bill Nunn, who hosts field trips and day camps at Skyrock Farm, says shortages are widespread.
"We're having a hard time finding farm labor," said Bill Nunn of Skyrock Farm in Hamel. "We have a lot of field trips scheduled for the summer so we'll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully they can find drivers to drive the buses because it's a great experience for kids."
Minnesota offers thousands of unique field trips, whether it's learning what it takes to be a professional jockey at Canterbury Park or touring the company that made glass for the new World Trade Center in Owatonna.
But right now, many field trip destinations are struggling. There aren't enough bus drivers to get the kids to these fun places.
One such place is the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center in south Minneapolis. That's where Youth Performance Company puts on its productions.
Now in its 30th season, the company works with young actors, who often portray young characters -- for young audiences.
"We are 30 years old and when you've been around that long, you really get to live through a lot of different trends," YPC Founder and Artistic Director Jacie Knight said. "Right now, we're in a trend where schools are not taking field trips like they once did."
Knight says the company used to manage a wait list of school districts seeking tickets but in 2008 sales started to drop.
And that led to a difficult decision.
Canceling performances.
More than a decade later, it's a tough call they're still having to make.
"We're about to open a show called Tuck Everlasting," Knight said. "It's a Newberry award-winning novel. Many, many schools read this book, so it's in the curriculum, and yes. We're going to be cancelling probably four shows."
That's 40 percent fewer performances than planned.
And less income.
"Of course that's an important factor for our survival but it's much more about the experiences that I think kids need to have," Knight said said. "You can read about the state capitol of Minnesota, you can see the pictures. But then, when you go to the actual building, and you see how majestic and big it is, that's a totally different experience."
Knight says some schools have struggled to book a show because bus drivers aren't available to take them.
In order to combat that issue, some districts are paying more for transport.
But others can't even consider that.
"Some of our schools have shown up on these luxury coaches," Assistant Director Sherilyn Howes said. "I understand why people maybe don't want to drive a bus because it doesn't seem like it would be an easy job in Minnesota in the winter. But you're very needed and it's a very important part of our education system."
According to the Minnesota Field Trip and Activity Library, a variety of field trip destinations are struggling. President and Founder Mark Peterson says the problem has been around for a while but appears to be getting worse.
But not everywhere.
The Children's Theatre Company says attendance has actually gone up over the past few years. But it has seen schools cite a lack of buses as a reason for cancelling tickets to shows. In order to keep attendance numbers high, the company pulls from its wait list to replace schools that cancel with those that can make it work.
The History Center says it hasn't noticed a big drop in attendance, but says that is probably because many of its field trips are funded.
On a similar note, the Science Museum offers subsidized transportation to schools in need on a first-come, first-serve basis.
A spokesperson says attendance has been steady in recent years.
If you're looking for a job, being a bus driver may be right for you.
Check out this graphic of requirements to become a bus driver and see if you'd make the cut. It's easier than it sounds!
Then, visit one of the websites for the many companies around the state looking to hire a bus driver.
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