The Jericho School district, and many districts in Nassau County, are facing a major transportation problem that is out of their hands - a shortage of bus drivers. This shortage is posing a major challenge to the Transportation Department in Jericho.

The problem began near the end of last year and is just continuing. The Laid Law Transportation Company, which services Jericho as well as most other school districts in Nassau with their buses, has been making a great effort to fill the vacant routes. Advertising has been placed in local publications and the company has been offering incentives to new drivers.

"I am trying to hire whoever I can that is qualified," said Jerry Fenton from the Laid Law Company, which is located in Hicksville. "I am offering a $2,000 sign on bonus for anyone who is experienced and a $600 sign on bonus for those with no experience and then I train them to help them get their license."

There are presently seven routes, out of the 32 big buses in Jericho, that do not have a permanent driver, according to Don Otton, director of transportation for Jericho. "When you do not have a regular driver on the route, there is no consistency," said Otton. "Children might be getting to school late or something because the driver is not familiar with the route."

To ease the inconsistency problem, Laid Law tries to keep the same fill-in driver on the same route each day. Consistency is Otton's main concern.

Otton stressed that this is not just a Laid Law problem, but a nationwide problem. "The drivers pool is just not there," he said.

Otton is encouraging parents in need of information about bus delays to call his office at 681-4100 ext. 244 or 245 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. From 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., the district switchboard operator at 681-4100 ext. 0 will have information about bus related delays. Buses that return student athletes to Jericho after the 6:30 p.m. bus will transport any student home when requested.

"We are trying to do the best that we can," said Otton. "We are asking for everyone to be patient at this time."