A shortage of bus drivers and a potential mold problem looms over Gloucester Township schools
At the Gloucester Township Board of Education meeting on Monday, Oct. 15, Superintendent John Bilodeau spoke on two ongoing challenges the district is facing.
First, the Ann A. Mullen Middle School roof continues to be under construction, in an attempt to make fixes to the area above the cafeteria. Due to the particularly wet season the area has experienced over the past few months, the completion date of the roof has seen setbacks.
“We’ve had some rain recently, and when it does rain, it does alter the schedule,” said Bilodeau. “I did speak with [the engineer] … he indicted at the last meeting that the rain was a factor.”
Bilodeau also stated the work on the roof is not a distraction to kids during the school day. However, he indicated the hope is that the work is completed soon.
Ray Polidoro, from Erial, inquired to the board during public comment about where work was being done on the roof, and Bilodeau confirmed work had been isolated to the cafeteria portion of the school.
Polidoro also asked the board about potential mold concerns in some schools throughout the district. Bilodeau indicted the Camden County Department of Health has visited at least three schools in the district to test for mold.
Bilodeau said the board is still waiting for the most recent test results to come back.
Polidoro asked what method school officials might be using to kill possible mold in the schools, however Bilodeau could not answer because the results are still not in.
“I don’t know if there is a problem just yet,” said Bilodeau. “We don’t have those reports.”
Melissa Seidel, a substitute teacher who has worked at Erial Elementary, attended the meeting and said she’s been in contact with the Camden County Board of Health since her son, who also attends Erial Elementary, has reportedly been sick since the beginning of the school year.
According to Seidel, who says she’s been in contact with Christopher Costa from the Camden County Board of Health, Erial Elementary tested “just below” the threshold for acceptable levels.
She noted seeing ceiling tiles have been replaced that clearly had moisture marks, however she additionally asked the board if areas in the ceiling were fixed where there may have been leaks that allowed moisture to accumulate on the tiles in the first place.
Bilodeau indicated the Erial Elementary rooftop air conditioner unit in the library was creating a foul odor in the room, leading Bilodeau to ask the administration to fix the situation.
Additionally, Bilodeau made the board and public aware the district has reached a “critical” point with regard to the number of bus drivers.
“We are 15 drivers short. That is 15 percent of our staff,” said Bilodeau. “And that is before anyone calls out sick, has a bereavement day, has a personal day.”
Bilodeau stated recent federal government changes have made it more difficult for individuals to apply and pass the tests to become a bus driver. According to Bilodeau, applicants must now have a much more mechanical understanding of the engine, braking system and additional parts of the bus before being certified to operate one for a school district.
Bilodeau said it has been immensely difficult for the district to get the fleet up to 100 percent due to other problems, as well. As it stands, it takes four to six months to get a road test after passing the written test with the state Department of Motor Vehicles, according to Bilodeau.
The Gloucester Township Board of Education has raised the salary $7 per hour over the past three years, however still faces this problem. Solicitor Dan Long said Gloucester Township is not “isolated” with this problem, as superintendents across the state he has spoken with are also struggling to deal with this problem.
Bilodeau said the district is still advertising and accepting applications for bus drivers and those interested, who fit the requirements, are advised to apply on the Board of Education website.
