Kyrene gave school bus drivers $750 to reduce absences. District officials say it worked

As schools across the state deal with an ongoing bus driver shortage, one Valley district says it has found a way to make the most out of the drivers it does have.

Last summer, the governing board at the Kyrene School District in Tempe approved a $750 dollar quarterly stipend for bus drivers who are absent from their jobs no more than one day per quarter.

The district reports that over the last school year it averaged 2.4 bus driver absences per day, well below the eight daily absences it averaged the year before.

According to the district, 93% of drivers are on track to receive the stipend in the fourth quarter of this school year.

“Reliable transportation plays an important role in supporting student learning and helping families maintain daily routines,” Superintendent Laura Toenjes said in a press release. “We are proud of the commitment our transportation staff has shown this year, and these results demonstrate the positive impact of recognizing employees for consistent attendance and service.”

The new policy comes as many districts struggle to provide reliable transportation for students.

A 2025 survey of school administrators from across the country by the Associated Press and the University of Chicago found that over 40% said bus driver shortages had a major impact on their transportation operations. Another 37% said those shortages had a minor impact on operations.