Palmer, Alaska, September 10, 2025
News Summary
The Mat-Su Borough School District has canceled multiple bus routes because of a significant driver shortage. This affected 42 route segments, causing frustration among parents due to last-minute notifications. The shortage, linked to staffing issues with their bus contractor, has posed challenges for families managing school logistics. While cancellations mainly occurred last week, the situation improved this Monday with no further disruptions expected as more drivers return to work and recruitment efforts are underway.
Palmer, Alaska – The Mat-Su Borough School District has canceled several school bus routes due to a significant shortage of drivers, impacting students and families. The cancellations, which occurred on Thursday and Friday of last week, affected approximately 42 bus route segments, representing less than 4% of the district’s daily operations of 550 segments. Although this represents a small portion of the routes, the last-minute notifications left many parents frustrated, as they were often informed just hours before scheduled pick-up times.
The shortage is linked to staffing issues with Durham School Services, the contractor responsible for bus services since 2022 under a contract worth nearly $200 million. A district spokesperson highlighted that absences among drivers coupled with a lack of standby drivers led to these route cancellations. Parents voiced complaints about how these sudden changes have disrupted their ability to manage work and school logistics, significantly affecting daily routines.
Fortunately, the situation appeared to improve on the following Monday, with no further cancellations reported. The driver shortage was attributed to various factors including leaves of absence and unexpected call-offs. The district anticipates that the situation will stabilize as more drivers return to work and new employees complete their training.
This is not the first time the district has experienced a driver shortage. In August 2022, the Mat-Su Borough School District also faced similar issues that necessitated the cancellation of regular education routes at the beginning of the school year. The situation is reflective of broader trends affecting school districts in Alaska, such as the Anchorage School District, which also began the 2022 school year with challenges in bus driver availability. Anchorage implemented a rotating bus schedule due to its driver shortage, affecting many families as well. Currently, the Anchorage School District can only serve 7,000 out of 20,000 eligible students at any given time under this system.
Amid these ongoing staffing challenges, the Alaska National Guard has stated it cannot assist with the driver shortage due to legal constraints that prevent activation for this purpose. In response to growing concerns, the Anchorage School District is exploring various solutions to alleviate transportation burdens on families. This includes a $2,500 incentive package designed to attract new drivers and an additional $500 for bus attendants for the first semester of the school year.
Overall, the situation regarding school bus transportation in Alaska remains precarious, with a total of 375 open positions across various departments in the Anchorage School District alone, indicating that the driver shortage may not resolve quickly. Other strategies involve restructuring bus routes, with general education bus routes being divided into cohorts to balance service availability. Special education routes and students living within 1.5 miles of their schools continue to operate without interruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were school bus routes canceled in the Mat-Su Borough School District?
The school bus routes were canceled due to a shortage of drivers linked to staffing issues with Durham School Services, the district’s bus contractor.
How many bus routes were affected by the cancellations?
Around 42 bus route segments were canceled, which is less than 4% of the district’s total of 550 daily route segments.
Is this driver shortage a new issue?
No, the Mat-Su Borough School District faced a similar driver shortage the previous year, resulting in the cancellation of regular education routes at the beginning of the school year.
What is the response from other school districts regarding their driver shortages?
The Anchorage School District has faced similar shortages and is implementing a rotating bus service system to manage capacity, while also offering financial incentives to attract new drivers.
Key Features Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| District Affected | Mat-Su Borough School District |
| Number of Canceled Routes | 42 bus route segments |
| Total Daily Routes | 550 route segments |
| Contract Value | Nearly $200 million |
| Previous Issues | Driver shortage in August 2022 |
| Current Status | No further cancellations reported on Monday |
| Incentives Offered | $2,500 incentive for new drivers |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Alaska’s News Source: Driver Shortage Hits Mat-Su Students
- Wikipedia: School Bus
- Anchorage Daily News: National Guard Unable to Help with Bus Driver Shortage
- Google Search: School Bus Driver Shortage
- School Transportation News: Driver Shortages in Alaska
- Google Scholar: School Bus Driver Shortage
- Anchorage Daily News: ASD Bus Routes Suspension
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Transportation
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