Durham School Services buses parked outside of the former Sears Auto Center at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford on August 14, 2020
Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut MediaMILFORD - Bus driver shortages and missed routes won’t be something Milford parents should be concerned about when city schools open Wednesday, according to one top school official.
Milford schools Chief Operations Officer James Richetelli, Jr., said that there are no issues with driver shortages or fears of missed routes with Durham School Services, the school system’s contracted bus company.
“We’re very fortunate,” Richetelli said. “(Durham) has done a great job of retaining drivers … they have been working on that since the pandemic began. They also made a big recruitment push before last year, and they have several new drivers trained and licensed and ready to go.”
Bus companies throughout the state are short of drivers, resulting in consolidated or missed routes. Hamden schools had more than 300 students on opening day Monday that needed alternate transportation to schools because the company they contract did not have enough drivers.
Richetelli said Durham runs 63 buses in the city, with some 110 routes and 1,100 stops. Durham has 70 drivers and 10 spare drivers, he added.
“They’ve been excellent,” Richetelli said about Durham’s drivers, who he says are treated like 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 is not affecting the bus routes or the transportation system we have,” Richetelli said. “We are continuing to take COVID protocols. Parents should know that the transportation system is running as it should.
“Students will be safe … they will get to school on time and be brought home safely and on time,” he added.
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com