The district shared these updates during its Oct. 24 board of trustees meeting, which also included discussions on mileage trends and the status of bus driver staffing.
How we got here?
Jessica Fischer, Director of Transportation, highlighted key changes, including the purchase and disposal of several buses, as well as the impact of state funding on the district’s transportation costs.
The 2021 Bond allocated $10 million for 30 specially-equipped buses and for the replacement of 50 high-mileage general education buses. Mileage on those buses range from 250,000 to 300,000 miles, Fischer said.
Going forward
To promote student comfort and safety, Comal ISD has equipped newer buses with several key features, Fischer said, including:
- Seat belts, air conditioning and tinted windows
- 77-passenger capacity
- Advanced camera systems for remote monitoring
Also of note
In response to staffing challenges, the district implemented measures to attract and retain drivers, Fischer said.
- A wage increase reduced vacancies from 91 in September to 83 currently
- Many new hires now possess commercial driver’s licenses, streamlining the training process
- Teacher-coaches have pitched in by driving buses for extracurricular events on evenings and weekends
- Comal ISD’s actual cost per mile has increased to $4.18
- Diesel fuel prices have nearly doubled since 2021, climbing from $1.76 per gallon to $3.39
