LI Bus Driver Shortage Strands Dozens Of Special Education Students

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Dozens of special education students at Nassau BOCES schools were left with no way to get to class when their school buses failed to show up this week.

According to BOCES, the Friday before classes were supposed to begin, they were informed by their bus vendor that they were short of drivers, and would not be able to pick up students on eight routes. That left BOCES scrambling to find a way to get 74 students across multiple grades to school.

BOCES runs schools across Nassau County. Some are occupational training for high school students, and others are special education schools. The organization also provides support to school districts across the county.

"The shortage of bus drivers, which is a nationwide challenge, has impacted schools throughout the country, and we recognize the inconvenience this has placed on students, families and staff," said Angela Marshall, the public information officer for Nassau BOCES. "Please be assured that as we work to solve this unexpected scenario, our highest priorities remain the safety and well-being of our students."

Nassau BOCES said that the affected students were from Seaman Neck Middle School in Seaford, Robert Williams School in Jericho, Willet Avenue School in Hicksville, and Rosemary Kennedy School and the Center for Community Adjustment, both located in Wantagh. The affected students are in grades ranging from elementary to high school.

This week, BOCES still has no way to get the children to school, other than having parents or others drive them. Starting Monday, the bus company will be able to get 26 of the students to school.

BOCES said the company — First Student, a nation-wide company with a local office in Hicksville — has hired additional drivers, and plans to get students back on routes by Sept. 19. Patch reached out to the company for comment.

Until then, BOCES is providing online instruction for the children who can't make it to the classroom.