TALLADEGA, Ala. – Faced with a driver shortage, Talladega City Schools is taking creative steps to reduce delays on school bus routes.
According to Superintendent Dr. Quinton Lee, district staff worked before the start of the school year to streamline bus routes and improve drop-off efficiency. The effort remains a work in progress.
School officials recently sent home a transportation survey to gather information that could help further optimize routes, and the district is using an artificial intelligence tool that helps parents identify the correct bus for their child.
Recognizing that driver shortages are affecting school systems across Alabama, state lawmakers passed legislation this year allowing retired bus drivers to return to full-time work without losing their retirement benefits. Lee praised three retired drivers who have returned to service and are driving routes each day.
Talladega City Schools’ transportation system provides service for nearly 900 students.
