Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers, has signed a new bill that aims to tackle the shortage of school bus drivers in the state. The bill, known as Assembly Bill 233 or 2023 Wisconsin Act 26, allows members of school boards to serve as volunteer school bus drivers, provided they have the appropriate licensure.
According to the Wisconsin School Bus Association, there is currently a significant shortage of bus drivers, with more than half of bus contractors in Wisconsin dealing with a 6 to 15% shortfall. This shortage has led to difficulties in ensuring that children can safely travel to and from school, as well as attend extracurricular activities and events.
Governor Evers highlighted the importance of school bus drivers in keeping children safe and expressed his concerns over the struggle school districts across the state face in finding enough drivers. He believes that this legislation will help alleviate some of the barriers by expanding the pool of individuals available for these important roles. He emphasizes that there is still more work to be done in addressing the challenges faced by districts, but this new bipartisan law is a critical first step.
Before the signing of this bill, the doctrine of incompatibility of office stated that an individual holding public office or a position of public employment couldn’t hold a second incompatible public office or position of public employment. However, there were two exceptions for school board members, allowing them to serve as volunteer coaches or extracurricular supervisors. The new law, Act 26, expands those exceptions to also include serving as volunteer bus drivers, under the condition that they do so on a voluntary basis without receiving compensation, obtain the necessary licensure and school bus endorsement from the WisDOT, and agree to abstain from voting on related issues within the board.
This move aims to address the shortage of school bus drivers by allowing school board members to contribute their time and skills. By serving as volunteer bus drivers, they can help ensure that students have reliable transportation options to get to school, games, and other activities. The hope is that this opportunity will entice more individuals to step forward and fill the critical role of a school bus driver.
The signing of Assembly Bill 233, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 26, marks a positive step in addressing the shortage of school bus drivers in Wisconsin. While there is still work to be done, this new law presents an opportunity for school board members to play a more active role in supporting student transportation. By volunteering their time and obtaining the necessary licensure, school board members can not only help alleviate the shortage but also contribute to the safety and well-being of students across the state.
