By JIM BUTLER

School Board Supt. Jeff Powell wants to reduce the cost of using substitute bus drivers, but just as importantly wants  to reduce the anxiety created when a regular driver can’t run his/her route.

Powell told the board Finance Committee this month he proposes hiring 10-15 full-time sub drivers

They would report for work daily. If the driver call-ins didn’t require them all those not driving would work at the board’s bus facility.

The full-time subs would drive routes anywhere in the parish.

Powell asked the panel to add $270,000 to the bus salary account. He noted sub driver cost last year was $490,000.

About 30 sub drivers are used daily filling in absences among the 205 contracted drivers. 

Additionally, about $600,000 was spent on driver extra work — special routes, field trips, etc. Hiring five full time drivers in that area would cut into that cost.

Savings  in both categories are projected to cover the full-time subs expense. 

At a previous meeting the committee talked about stand-by drivers who would fill the breaches, keeping parents and schools from last-minute scrambling as driver shortages pinch the system

Stand-by drivers have stand-by pay, with or without driving. That dog wouldn’t hunt.

The superintendent noted a route efficiency study is under way as part of the steps to easing the transportation crunch.

The panel sent the matter to the Executive Committee as a proposed consent agenda item.