Bus driver shortage to be eased by $1K bonus

The Wake County Public School System is facing a bus driver shortage, which is impacting students and families.

Some buses are arriving to school after the bell or dropping students off late.

Families are resorting to finding other ways to get their children to school, such as ride-sharing or carpooling.

Some parents are expressing frustration with the bus routes, saying that it is causing problems for their children.

"Getting your kid to school 40 minutes after it started-it doesn’t work for us," Chris Johnson, Wake Schools Parent said.

Johnson says his 7th grade son relies on neighborhood carpooling as staff with the school district takes steps to address a shortage of bus drivers.

"We lose a lot of drivers throughout the year. around five a month," Mark Strickland, Chief of Facilities and Operations for Wake Schools, said.

The school board approved Tuesday night a $1,000 bonus for returning bus drivers, which will be paid out later this month.

"We’re hoping this retention bonus will allow us the opportunity to not only get them in the door but keep them," Strickland said.

Wake Schools facing challenges, but making the best of what's available.

"Hoping through September and October to hire maybe four or five bus drivers per week," Strickland said.

Officials with Wake County Schools say the first week of bus service for traditional calendar students was strong, with 96% of the 1753 bus routes arriving to school on time.

Seventy buses arrived late, but 29 of those delays were planned.

The remaining 41 buses arrived late due to unforeseen circumstances, such as traffic or mechanical problems.

Johnson hopes the bonuses for drivers alleviates the annoyance from the current transportation plan.

"We really would like him to be able to take the bus certainly more convenient and less on a burden on parents," Johnson said.

This newly approved bonus is expected to be paid out later this month.

Additionally district wants to make a previously approved $1200 signing bonus quicker to obtain instead of drivers waiting a full year.