It was announced on December 15 that the Forest Lake Area Schools will transition back to distance learning due to a severe transportation staffing shortage affecting bus routes. This period of distance learning began on December 16 and is planned to last through December 23.

Forest Lake Area Schools is the latest district to join a growing list of Minnesota School Districts facing staffing shortages. At least 9 other districts throughout the State have been forced to address a similar situation and have done so by extending winter break schedules. 

Bus driver staffing shortages were a statewide issue prior to COVID and have been further exacerbated by the pandemic, now coupled with increasing retirement numbers. Other Minnesota school districts have begun offering hiring bonuses, raising drivers’ wages, and paying for applicants to get their commercial licenses for school bus operation. Unfortunately, these endeavors have proven fruitless as the shortage has expanded to be a nationwide issue.

“I am deeply concerned with the staffing shortages our schools are facing, and how it directly affects our students and their parents,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater). “Forest Lake Area Schools is joining the growing list of schools that are either extending vacations, or going back to distance learning, and that is causing great worry and distress for our local families! After a full year of disruption to in-classroom learning, it’s incredibly important that our kids are back in classrooms and engaging in in-person learning. We absolutely need to figure out this problem before it gets even more out-of-hand, because our kids should not be left to suffer.”