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Funding constraint bars PSS from hiring more bus drivers
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Posted on Apr 13 2012
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
The Public School System may experience the same, if not more challenges, in the operation of its pupil transportation department next school year due to a projected tight budget situation.
Jack Diaz, PSS Federal Transportation Administration program manager, disclosed to Saipan Tribune that there are only 17 drivers operating the 24 school buses for Saipan public schools.
These 17 drivers are separate from the two personnel needed for each mini-van for the special education program. PSS has eight vans and is required by law to have a driver and a conductor at all times.
According to Diaz, as much as the system wants to hire more people for the bus department, it cannot do so because of the lack of budget. Delays encountered each day, he said, are mainly cause by the double or multiple routes performed by their bus drivers.
Diaz believes that 17 drivers are not enough to ensure the smooth flow of transporting thousands of students to and from school campuses. “Our main problem is the funding. We cannot hire additional or enough number of drivers because our budget is really tight. And we cannot use any portion of FTA grants for personnel because these monies are strictly for certain purposes,” he said.
He believes that PSS needs at least 24 drivers.
PSS has a current budget of $30 million for its personnel and operation. The same funding level is recommended by Gov. Benigno Fitial for PSS next fiscal year 2013.
Besides the lack of funds for recruitment and hiring, Diaz revealed that another challenge awaiting the department is how it can maintain these vehicles as well as the newly built bus depot.
Saipan Tribune learned that of the 24 buses on Saipan, three are not operational due to some “legal issues” with manufacturers. Rota and Tinian each has one bus that is also non-functioning due to some problems.
Starting this fiscal year, PSS can no longer directly apply and receive grants from the Federal Transportation Administration after the Executive Branch created the Commonwealth Office of Public Transit Authority.
