Yuma Union High School District is experiencing an increased shortage of bus drivers for daily school routes and extracurricular travel.

For the past decade, YUHSD has operated below what constitutes a full staff of drivers. However, over the last 2-3 weeks, the district has seen the number of open positions increase with a current need for 37 drivers, approximately 13 more than in 2021-22.

To apply for a position as a bus driver, please fill out an application at https://www.applitrack.com/yumaelementary/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Transportation .

The impact of the driver shortage, in some cases, has required changes to travel for athletics and extracurricular activities, including rescheduling events and utilizing different methods of transportation such as charter buses or rental vehicles. The cost and availability of charter buses and rental vehicles is not sustainable, particularly during the winter months in Arizona when demand is at its highest.

The transportation department, which is part of an education consortium between YUHSD and Yuma Elementary School District No. 1, is hopeful that additional drivers will be hired and trained in the coming months. However, in the meantime, families of YUHSD students should keep the following in mind:

• YUHSD schools may be subject to occasional double runs on various days throughout the year. There are two ways a double-run or delay can come about: First, a planned double run is scheduled accordingly through our transportation department. This is posted online by accessing the transportation page on YumaUnion.org and clicking the bus route button. Families will need to enter their address to confirm bus times. On the occasion that a bus will be running later than the scheduled time (a foreseeable delay of 20 minutes or longer). The transportation department will do everything possible to send a Blackboard Connect message to impacted families.
  
  
• For out-of-town athletic and extracurricular trips, two or more YUHSD schools may be required to travel together.
  
  
• Charter buses are subject to availability and prices are determined by the charter company. At times, these costs can exceed $10,000 per trip.
  

YUHSD and its schools will update families about transportation changes as necessary over the course of the school year.