Future Dripping Springs ISD bus drivers will now be tested by a San Antonio school district rather than directly by a state agency to speed up the process of receiving their commercial driver's licenses.

Dripping Springs ISD has been dealing with shortages in custodial, food and transportation services, Board Member Stefani Reinold said during the Oct. 25 meeting of the Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees.

While the district has not yet compiled data on these shortages for board members to review, a report from the district's human resources department showed one driver resigned in September, and the district did not hire any new drivers during that month.

As drivers go through the process of obtaining licenses to drive commercially, they have experienced lengthy delays setting up testing appointments with the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to the background for the board item provided by the district. The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement with North East ISD on consent. The San Antonio school district been designated by the State of Texas as a third-party skills testing provider to approve commercial driver's licenses. The district hopes the agreement will speed up licensing.