Utica Schools must postpone hybrid learning plan

The Utica City School District will not start implementing in-person hybrid learning next week as planned, due to a bus driver shortage.

Supposed to start in-person learning for elementary students next week.

But -- the school board voted tonight to put off implementing its hybrid learning plan.

News channel 2's caitlin irla joins us live here in the studio to tell us why.

Good evening jason.

The utica city school district will not start implementing in- person hybrid learning next week as planned, due to a bus driver shortage.

Birnie bus, the company that provides transportation for the district, says they don't have enough drivers for the increased number of routes required for social distancing on buses.

The district's hybrid plan was supposed to start with 127 bus routes to accommodate two cohorts of elementary students, right now -- they only have 96 drivers.

-they are 31 drivers short.

Plus, the company does not have substitute drivers& the superintendent says without the company's ability to fulfill their contractual obligations by ensuring the 127 drivers necessary to transport elementary students, along with a contingency plan for the required number of substitute drivers... the school district will not be able to begin their phased in hybrid plan.

< "its disappointing."

"we were prepared, we've done everything we needed to do but the bus company did not have sufficient drivers in order to meet all the routes that are necessary to pick up the students.

And over 75 percent of our students are bused, so you're learning between 4 to 5 thousand students for elementary only."

According to district officials, the bus company previously assured the district that they had enough drivers.

Karam says the company is working to recruit new drivers.

But for now, the district will continue with remote instruction.

When birnie bus can guarantee sufficient drivers to provide necessary transportation, the district will revisit implementing their hybrid plan.

Jason, back to you.

Meantime rome students are back in person for the first time