Dec 17, 2007 5:27 pm US/Eastern
Bus Driver Shortage Strands 680 Boston Students
Many of the missing drivers were stranded at home by this weekend's storm.
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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The Boston Public Schools bus yard.
WBZ
More than 600 Boston Public School students were stranded at the bus stop Monday morning by a bus driver shortage.
According to the Boston Public Schools, as many as 12 school buses were not available to pick up students because about 70 drivers were either sick or had taken a personal day.
The city said many of the missing drivers were stranded at home and couldn't get out their driveways because of this weekend's storm.
The school system employs about 700 bus drivers every day, including 60 backup drivers, which were not enough to cover Monday's shortage.
The shortfall impacted 20 schools and about 680 students.
Boston Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol R. Johnson said the system was using an automated telephone system to alert families on the affected routes that buses would not be there to pick up their kids.
In a press release, Johnson apologized for the problem.
"We apologize to families for this disruption and inconvenience," said Johnson. "When school is open, we rely on our bus drivers to get more than 30,000 students safely to and from school. More than 600 drivers arrived at bus yards early this morning ready to work, but it is very problematic that 70 other individuals stayed home."
Earlier, an angry Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told WBZ he will demand an investigation into the shortage. He even went as far to say he wants to see doctors' notes from the drivers who called in sick.
Johnson said that any student who was unable to attend school Monday because of the bus disruption would not be penalized.
Afternoon service appeared to be running more smoothly as many drivers who could not make it to work in the morning were able to get in.
According to school officials, bus drivers are employed by First Student Inc., the contractor for all Boston Public Schools transportation.
District spokesman Jonathan Palumbo said the absences do not appear to be any organized protest by drivers. According to Palumbo, it is not unusual to see a lot of drivers call in after a big storm, but Monday's absentee rate was higher than expected.
Families with questions or concerns about their child's transportation can call the Boston Public Schools Transportation Department, 617-635-9520, or log onto their Web site
bostonpublicschools.org for more information.
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