Paw Paw Public Schools is partnering with Michigan Educational Transportation Services to address the bus driver shortage. METS staffing team will begin working with PPPS transportation department to hire substitute drivers on an as-needed basis.

School superintendent Jeremy Davison tells us he believes this new partnership will be a great solution to the problem.

“It does provide us with temporary substitute drivers that can fill the routes,” Davison says. “We have athletic teams that we can’t fill the transportation to get them to away games, so there’s a number of different opportunities we can use these drivers to fulfill the issue.”

METS staff will not only provide drivers but will also handle the hiring and managing. In the short term, Davison tells us this will put the district in a better position to cover routes and provide transportation for the students.

“Some people are lucky and have family or friends or other resources to get to school,” Davison says. “But then we have other kids that are stuck at home and not able to get to school and their attendance is an issue. If they’re not here in school we can’t have an impact on them like we want. It sounds like a great potential solution and it’s no reason why we shouldn’t be innovative and see how this works for Paw Paw.”

Davison tells us while this partnership will help, they are still looking for full-time bus drivers for the district. Those interested can contact Paw Paw schools.