Bus driver shortage impacts school schedule in Elmira City School District

Elmira, New York – Due to a school bus driver shortage the Elmira City School District will be modifying its school schedule for Oct. 8. According to the district, they will be understaffed by 16 bus drivers and the change is only for Friday, Oct. 8.

Following a typical Wednesday-early release schedule secondary schools will begin on a one-hour delay and elementary schools will be released. Transportation WILL be provided.

Schedule changes for Friday, October 8, 2021, are as follows:

• Broadway Academy (grade 9), Ernie Davis Academy (grades 7-8), Elmira High School (Grades 10-12) will begin on a one-hour delay on Friday, October 8, 2021. Food services will provide breakfast for all students.

• Elementary Schools will release at their “Wednesday Release Times” as follows:

– Primary (Diven, Fassett, Pine City, Riverside) – 1:45 p.m.

– Intermediate (Beecher, Broadway, Hendy, Parley Coburn) – 1:25 p.m.

New Day and Kids World programming will run on October 8th with normal Wednesday hours. The ARCADE program will be canceled for Friday, October 8.

One month ago Gov.Hochul announced a plan to handle school bus driver shortages.

Beside short-term steps to remove barriers, the plan includes recruiting traditional and non-traditional Commercial Driver’s License holders, expand CDL testing opportunities, and enhance processes all designed to get more drivers into school buses.

New York State is launching outreach to more than 550,000 CDL license holders in New York State.