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MILFORD — Bus driver shortages and missed routes won’t be something parents in Milford should worry about when the town’s schools open on Wednesday, according to a senior school official.
Milford Schools operations manager James Richetelli, Jr., said there was no issue of driver shortages or fear of missed routes with Durham School Services, the system’s contracted bus company. school.
“We are very lucky,” Richetelli said. “(Durham) has done a great job of retaining drivers… they have been working on it since the pandemic started. They also did a big recruiting push before last year, and they have several new drivers trained and licensed and ready to go.
Bus companies across the state are running out of drivers, resulting in consolidated or missed routes. Hamden Schools had over 300 pupils on opening day on Monday who needed alternative transport to schools because the company they had contracted did not have enough drivers.
Richetelli said Durham operates 63 buses in the city, with some 110 routes and 1,100 stops. Durham has 70 drivers and 10 reserve drivers, he added.
“They’ve been excellent,” Richetelli said of the Durham drivers, who he says are treated as an extension of the school system staff.
Milford has contracted Durham School Services for the past 15 years.
“COVID is affecting so much, but this year it’s not affecting the bus lines or the transportation system that we have,” Richetelli said. “We continue to follow COVID protocols. Parents need to know that the transport system is working as it should.
“Students will be safe… they will arrive at school on time and be brought home safely and on time,” he added.
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