HERMANN — A lack of substitute drivers has prompted an adjustment to some bus routes in the Gasconade County R-1 School District.

Associate Superintendent Leslie Lause, who oversees the district’s transportation service, last week told the R-1 Board of Directors that the district is down by five part-time drivers and one full-time driver with another driver scheduled to be unavailable in the coming weeks.

Changes to the affected routes are being made keep the travel time for students to a minimum. Lause said with the changes all routes will remain under two hours in duration, with the average time about an hour and 30 minutes.

“We’re in a quandary,” she said, referring to managing the shortage of drivers. Many districts are dealing with a lack of drivers, as well as a lack of substitute teachers — issues that are lingering in large measure from the COVID pandemic.

Meanwhile, Special Services Director Missy Ash in her monthly report to the board noted that a “noticeable” increase has been seen in the number of parent referrals for special education services at the middle school and elementary school levels. These requests, she said, appear to be connected to behavioral issues affecting student performance in the classroom and are not purely related to academic delays.

“This trend highlights the importance of continued communication and collaboration between parents and educators to ensure students receive the appropriate interventions and behavioral support needed to promote their academic and social success,” Ash said.

The school board also recognized the success of the Hermann High School boys and girls cross-country teams that competed in the state meet. The boys finished 6th and the girls finished 12th. Also recognized was the HHS volleyball team, which finished second in its class at the final four tournament in St. Joseph.