#Ma school bus shortage drivers#
#Ma school bus shortage driver#

'With the delta variant, I think some folks who might have considered a return are probably gonna stay on the sidelines a bit longer.'įor now, Macsyn said parents are being forced to find alternative modes of transportation to get their kids to school each morning, such as having family members take them, carpooling, or having students walk or bike. 'During COVID, people chose their health over a position,' Macysyn said. While the reasons for the shortage are varied, Curt Macysyn executive director for the National School Transportation Association, which represents private school bus contractors, told ABC News in August that health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic have played a role.

#Ma school bus shortage driver#

Other states experiencing school bus driver shortages include Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. The statement also said that the National Guard will comply with all health and safety measures. 'All activated Guard personnel will complete vehicle training to ensure the safety of children and families.'

#Ma school bus shortage drivers#

'These Guard personnel will be available to serve as drivers of school transport vans known as 7D vehicles to address staffing shortages in certain districts,' the statement read. Baker, 90 Guard members will 'prepare for service in Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell and Lynn' and up to 250 personnel will be available for the assignment. According to Tutwiler, Lynn schools, which rely on a private company for transportation needs, only have 18 bus drivers available enough to bring 680 students to school during its phased-in. 14, nearly 100 members of the Massachusetts National Guard will begin training sessions to serve as school bus drivers and assist communities impacted by school bus driver shortages.Īccording to a statement released by the office of public safety and security of Massachusetts Gov. are facing bus driver shortages, one state is tapping the National Guard to help. And then if somebody's having a tough day, ideally the bus driver flags it for us later in the day.BOSTON - As school districts across the U.S.

'They're not social workers, but they're building positive relationships with kids,' he said. Massini Bus Company could not be reached for comment.ĭillon said school bus drivers are critical partners with school educators. We have just enough but if drivers are sick or out, then the owner of the company is driving,' Dillon said. Peter Dillon, the superintendent of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, which includes Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge, said the Massini Bus Company, which provides bussing in that region, has enough drivers, but not an abundance. Seigal Clark Avenue School in Chelsea, Mass. 'We've got a general workforce issue in a lot of different areas and I think drivers is one example of that.' EDT National Guard soldier Richard Gibbs transports students to and from middle school at Morris H. 'Certainly we're hearing in the western part of the state that the challenges remain and that it's going to take some more time to shake through this problem,' Scott said. This year, he said finding enough drivers is a little easier, at least in eastern Massachusetts. He said in the past few years a lot of school bus drivers left their jobs. Charlie Baker says 250 Guard members with. Tom Scott, executive director of the association, said there are unique challenges to being a bus driver, such as the hours - a few in the morning, a few in the afternoon - and the responsibility of transporting children. Calls On The National Guard To Help Mitigate A School Bus Driver Shortage The pandemic has contributed to a shortage in bus drivers, so Gov. As the school year begins, some schools districts in central and western Massachusetts are facing challenges finding bus drivers, according to the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.