Episode Details

School buses are running dangerously short-staffed across Southwest Virginia as the new school year begins, with Franklin County Public Schools missing four drivers — a marked improvement from last year’s double-digit shortfall. To bridge the gap, districts are turning to substitutes, even office staff who can drive, while actively recruiting retirees and stay-at-home parents for part-time roles. Route adjustments are constant, responding to shifting student numbers. This crisis isn’t isolated — multiple regional districts face similar challenges, underscoring how vital bus drivers are as students’ first and last points of contact each day. Training takes 3-4 weeks, but solutions vary: Roanoke City partners with Zum, a private firm that guarantees full coverage through aggressive recruitment. Short-staffed districts plan to keep hiring all year to ensure every route is safely covered.

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