LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Lancaster County Schools are experiencing a massive bus driver shortage.
Over the weekend, the transportation director posted a message on Facebook to parents and students saying, "we are literally stretched thin," describing the shortage of drivers but withheld the reason why
The full statement posted on Facebook reads as follows:
"Currently, our Transportation Department has been stricken with a rash of difficult circumstances that has created many drivers rendered unavailable to drive. In the interest of privacy I cannot share the particulars with you. This driver shortage stretches across our county from Indian Land to Andrew Jackson. Not a single bus lot has been spared from adversity.
While I have I learned bad news never gets better with time I see no reason to not be completely transparent with you. We will be experiencing late buses over the next couple of weeks at a minimum. There is nothing that can be done any differently at this point. We are literally stretched paper thin. I implore you to please be patient with our drivers and supervisors as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.
At the end of the day, it’s my job to keep buses rolling and to support families and schools. With that said, we will never cut corners or place drivers and students in harm’s way no matter how many buses we have to ground. Please keep our department and employees in your thoughts and prayers as we go forward."
WCNC Charlotte's Billie Jean Shaw spoke to Bryan Vaughn, the director of the transportation to get answers for parents as to why district has seen a sudden drop in drivers.
“We got some folks with some family issues, some folks with deaths in the family and of course COVID-19 plays into that as well as a lot of other issues, said Vaughn.”
The district is supposed to have 80 drivers to cover the 5,000 students riding buses during this semester’s hybrid schedule.
In the last few weeks, 17 drivers have called out, including three who are in quarantine after becoming exposed to COVID-19 outside of work.
Vaughn says the district has informed parents of students may have come in contact with those drivers.
“We take the safest precautions to make sure they’re not around children,” said Vaughn.
Due to the driver shortage, bus routes in Lancaster County are now delayed impacting transportation for at least 700 students.
The solution for now is for current drivers to pull double routes. That means more students are on a bus at one time.
The district is making sure social distancing measures are in place.
“We’re able to hold 50 to 55 students, somewhere in that range, “ said Vaughn. “Most of our buses were routed to have 20 to 25 kids on them so we have plenty of space on our buses.”
The district is expecting some drivers to return to work by Thursday, but warns there still will be delays.
