Wasilla, Alaska, September 10, 2025
News Summary
The Mat-Su Borough School District has canceled numerous bus routes due to a significant shortage of drivers. About 42 bus route segments were impacted, leaving families in distress as they scrambled to adjust plans with late notifications. The driver shortage is linked to staffing issues with Durham School Services, their transportation provider. While the district saw no further cancellations in the following days, concerns persist among parents. Similar issues are also affecting the Anchorage School District, highlighting a broader regional transportation challenge.
Wasilla, Alaska – Mat-Su Borough School District Faces Major Bus Route Cancellations Due to Driver Shortage
The Mat-Su Borough School District recently canceled dozens of school bus routes due to a significant shortage of drivers. Over 42 bus route segments were affected on Thursday and Friday of last week, with late notifications leaving families scrambling to adjust their plans. Less than 4% of the daily 550 bus route segments operated by the district were impacted during this period, but the sudden changes raised concerns among parents who received alerts only hours before pick-up times.
The driver shortage stems from ongoing staffing issues with Durham School Services, the district’s contracted transportation provider since 2022, under a contract worth nearly $200 million. The school district’s spokesperson, John Notestine, explained that the cancellations resulted from driver absences and a lack of available standby drivers to cover these gaps. Despite the recent challenges, the district reported no further cancellations the following Monday, indicating that the situation may be stabilizing as some drivers return, and new recruits complete their training.
Parents have expressed frustration over the issues caused by the bus cancellations, particularly in coordinating work and school schedules. A notable example is Jorge Osorio, a parent who highlighted the difficulties faced by families in managing transportation logistics effectively when they rely on district-provided services.
The driver shortage is not an isolated problem for the Mat-Su borough. In August 2022, the district experienced a similar situation, leading to the cancellation of regular education bus routes at the beginning of the school year. Furthermore, the Anchorage School District also began the 2022 school year under a bus driver shortage, employing a rotating bus schedule that affected a substantial number of families. Under this system, only enough drivers were available to serve 7,000 of the approximately 20,000 eligible students at any given time, with general education routes split into cohorts for service.
Despite efforts to mitigate the situation, including encouragement for families to drive their children to school or arrange carpools, the need for solutions remains pressing. The Anchorage School District is considering various strategies to alleviate the transportation burdens families face. Among these is an incentive package designed to attract new drivers, including offers of $2,500 for new recruits and an additional $500 for bus attendants for the first semester. However, with 375 open positions in various departments across the Anchorage School District, alleviating the driver shortage may take time.
Compounding these transportation issues, the Alaska National Guard has stated it can’t provide assistance due to legal constraints that prevent activation for this purpose. While the Mat-Su Borough School District hopes for improvement as staffing levels normalize, the need for a sustainable solution to prevent future disruptions is clear.
Key Facts Recap
- Dozens of bus routes were canceled due to a driver shortage, affecting 42 segments.
- The district operates 550 route segments daily.
- Driver shortfall linked to staffing issues with Durham School Services, under a $200 million contract.
- Less than 4% of routes were affected during cancellations.
- Similar driver shortages affect Anchorage School District and the wider region.
Future Outlook
The Mat-Su Borough School District anticipates that the driver situation will improve with existing drivers returning and new hires beginning their roles. However, parents are encouraged to develop alternate transportation plans in case of future cancellations.
FAQs
Why were school bus routes canceled in the Mat-Su Borough?
Bus routes were canceled due to a driver shortage linked to staffing issues with Durham School Services, the contracted transportation provider for the district.
How many bus routes were affected by the cancellations?
A total of 42 bus route segments were canceled, which accounts for less than 4% of the daily 550 route segments operated by the district.
What solutions are being considered to address the driver shortage?
The Anchorage School District is exploring various strategies, including recruiting incentives and encouraging parents to arrange carpooling or drive their own children to school.
Chart of Key Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Bus Routes Operated Daily | 550 |
| Routes Affected by Cancellations | 42 segments |
| Contract Value with Durham School Services | $200 million |
| Percentage of Routes Affected | Less than 4% |
| Number of Open Positions in Anchorage School District | 375 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Alaska’s News Source: Driver Shortage Hits Mat-Su Students
- Wikipedia: School Bus
- Anchorage Daily News: National Guard Unable to Help with Bus Driver Shortage
- Google Search: School Bus Driver Shortage
- School Transportation News: Driver Shortages in Alaska
- Google Scholar: School Bus Driver Shortage
- Anchorage Daily News: ASD Bus Routes Suspension
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Transportation
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