Durham’s transportation challenges prompt Roanoke City Schools to consider their own bus services

Roanoke, Virginia – The contract between Durham and Roanoke City Schools is set to expire at the end of this school year.

Superintendent Verletta White highlighted various factors to be considered regarding the renewal of the contract. Among these considerations is the possibility of the school system operating its own transportation services.

Following a period of transportation challenges, there has been a noted improvement in punctuality regarding student arrivals at school.

To address rising concerns, White, along with other educational leaders, convened a virtual town hall on Wednesday evening, providing a platform for parents and staff to voice their apprehensions.

A prominent challenge identified was the understaffing at Durham School Services. For optimal operation and timely service, Durham requires a total of 119 drivers. However, currently, they are operating with only 99 drivers on board.

White elaborated on the complexities faced when attempting to rectify transportation issues. She stated, “You reached out to us and you said, ‘The bus is late and my kid is on the bus too long.’” White further explained that efforts to reduce commute time for students, such as dividing bus routes, inadvertently necessitate additional drivers. She mentioned, “So when we saw that length of time, we had to split routes. But when you split routes, now you need two drivers instead of one. So then that increases the need for more drivers.”

It was also noted that Durham incurs penalties for bus delays, with the consequent fines being deducted from their total contractual payment.