News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena County Sheriff Erik Smith, left, talks to a pair of men on Wednesday about his decision to acquire a commercial driver’s license to help bus students to school when needed.

ALPENA — A trend is developing in Alpena, one that could help provide transportation to and from school for some students.

Last month, Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau reported that he is in the process of earning his commercial driver’s license so he can lend a hand driving school buses when there aren’t enough drivers available.

Now, Alpena County Sheriff Erik Smith is doing the same.

Smith said he learned about Rabbinau’s intent to assist with school transportation during a tour of one of the schools in the district.

The school district has tried to fight through a driver shortage, but, recently, the district has been forced to cancel bus routes and parents and students needed to find alternate ways to get to class.

Smith said he used to serve as a police liaison officer at Thunder Bay Junior High School and he handled truancy issues and still considers it part of his job to get kids to school, no matter what it takes.

“Everyone is trying to make ends meet and everyone is trying to get to work and every time the email goes out that your child isn’t going to be picked up, it is an inconvenience and might lead to kids not going to class,” Smith said. “I figured, if there was a way I could step up and be a help, it would be the right thing to do. We need our kids in school. If we can’t get them there with buses, it is counterintuitive to my goal of always getting kids to school.”

Although a sheriff’s primary responsibility is keeping the community safe and fighting crime, Smith said the job goes well beyond that. He said he believes a good sheriff will help bring a positive impact on his or her community in other ways, too.

“It is not just about being a police officer or running a jail, but also making sure the community is served in other manners,” he said. “That is always one of my goals. I want to be there for my community.”

The school district has tried recruiting new, qualified drivers with job fairs and other means.

Smith said that, in a perfect world, the schools would have all the drivers they need to get every student to and from school each day. But, until staffing improves, the more qualified people who are willing to help, the better, he said.

Both Rabbideau and Smith said they will only drive the buses when it is needed badly and their driving will not impact the roles they play in the school system and county.

Smith said he just recently received his class materials and he’s in the early steps of earning his CDL.

Rabbideau is expected to begin his behind-the-wheel road training soon and is getting close to earning the needed licenses to drive.