The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District announced Friday that it is altering school bus routes — again — effective Tuesday, Sept. 6. Multiple school bus routes will be consolidated beginning next week as part of what the district called “a temporary solution” it hopes to have resolved by the end of October.
Changes to routes affecting Soldotna High School, Skyview Middle School, River City Academy, Nikiski Middle/High School, Redoubt Elementary School, Nikiski North Star Elementary School and Soldotna Elementary Schools were shared in a Friday post to the district’s Facebook page.
The announcement came almost a month after the district first announced abbreviated school bus routes, citing a shortage of drivers and high prices, including for gas. At that time, KPBSD Director of Planning and Operations Kevin Lyon said the district had brought on 12 out-of-area temporary drivers, who were scheduled to leave the district by Labor Day.
“The changes reduce costs and maximize buses (student counts) while retaining as much service to areas as possible and keeping student ride times as short as possible,” the district announcement says. “Updated (stop) times will be posted by the School District.”
KPBSD is not the only district suffering a shortage of drivers. Anchorage School District Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt announced similar changes to school bus service in that district, also due to a shortage of bus drivers. Students in the Anchorage School District will have bus service for three weeks at a time, followed by six weeks without service.
The full district announcement, including a summary of route changes, can be found on the KPBSD Facebook page.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
