Several school systems in Northern Virginia are reporting shortages on bus drivers, forcing administrators to find creative ways of shuttling children to and from school. Some schools have buses drive double-runs, other schools have had to make drivers full-time employees to avoid losing them to other jobs. The problems will retaining drivers are plentiful–with split shifts running large buses full of children during peak traffic hours, the job is very stressful. Competing wages between counties also lure qualified drivers away from at-need school systems. As unemployment continues to decline in Northern Virginia, fewer drivers are willing to work the often thankless job.
The availability of drivers has an affect on many hotly debated concerns like when the school day should begin and end, where school districts are located, and how long of a bus ride is appropriate for students.
