School Districts in Chester County Struggling with Lack of Bus Drivers

Several school districts in Chester County are struggling with the shortage of school bus drivers that has plagued the entire country, writes Maddie Hanna for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In a survey by School Bus Fleet magazine published earlier this year, around 24 percent of school districts across the country reported “desperate” or “severe” driver shortages, while an additional 38 percent reported “moderate” shortages.

Locally, the situation in some districts is so bad that many, including the West Chester Area School District, have had to rely on substitute drivers who are not always familiar with their routes. This means that drivers sometimes either miss stops or have to double up on runs and prolong the time kids spend on the bus.

Westtown Township resident Michelle Donia said her daughter has often been late for a half-hour or more when returning from Collegium Charter School in Exton.

“It’s hit or miss,” said Donia.

Meanwhile, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District parked a bus outside of its schools during the summer to advertise the open positions.

“Strangely, it seems that’s what brought in the most eligible applicants for us,” said Marco Sordi, the district’s transportation supervisor.

Read more about the shortage of school bus drivers in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.