School Bus Driver Shortage Continues In Medford

MEDFORD, MA — The Medford Public Schools expects there will be ongoing challenges relating to school bus routes due to a nationwide shortage of bus drivers, Superintendent Marice Edouard-Vincent said Friday.

In a message to families earlier this month, Edouard-Vincent said the district's primary vendor, Eastern Bus Co., and its smaller vendors who provide transportation to students with disabilities, are working to recruit and train new drivers.

"This nationwide shortage is why some of our arrival and drop-off times have been inconsistent over the course of the first two weeks of school," Edouard-Vincent said Sept. 10. "It is likely that these challenges will continue for the next several weeks, but we will keep engaging with our transportation partners to improve upon the reliability and quality of the services our students experience in getting to and from school."

Edouard-Vincent indicated Friday that the driver shortage continues to affect transportation in the district.

"It is likely that there will be ongoing challenges with respect to bus routes," Edouard-Vincent said. "Our first priority will always be the safe and efficient transportation of students to and from school."

Gov. Charlie Baker's office activated 190 National Guard members last week to aid communities experiencing severe bus and van driver shortages. Up to 250 will be made available to districts where they are needed in the coming weeks.

Families experiencing challenges related to transportation should email transportation@medford.k12.ma.us.