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FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A shortage of school bus drivers across the Bay State has school officials scrambling to make accommodations because the start of the school year is already here.
Officials with Framingham Public Schools say they're able to ensure a bus ride for over 97 percent of its students. However, at last count, 125 students are still in need.
The issue is that the vendor the school district contracted is short about ten bus drivers from the required 77.
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The company, NRT, also works with Marlborough Public Schools, which also expects similar problems this school year. They are currently in the process of testing and training prospective drivers to help solve this issue.
Some bus drivers are leaving because they're at high risk for Covid-19 and others are leaving for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
In the entire state of Massachusetts there is a 15 percent shortage of school bus drivers.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) Reports:
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