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District warns of bus driver shortages as school year opens
Summary
Northwestern Lehigh administrators told the board the district has lost drivers, reduced runs and is relying on parental opt-outs and senior parking to maintain service; officials said recruitment and retention remain a challenge.
District transportation staff told the Northwestern Lehigh School District board that the district is experiencing driver shortages that have already reduced route capacity and will require ongoing adjustments.
Director-level staff reported the district has lost two bus drivers and is operating at the limit of available runs. The staff described a mix of measures taken to keep routes running, including consolidating runs, relying on parents who opt their children out of bus service, and not routing seniors who hold parking passes. Staff said the district is recruiting drivers and is reshuffling assignments daily to maintain service ahead of Monday’s first day of school.
Board members were informed that the shortage extends to van drivers as well and that staffing volatility could force further service changes, at which point the board would need to be consulted. The board did not take additional formal action beyond approving annual bus stop designations, but members asked staff to continue recruitment efforts and to update the board if service levels change.
Transportation staff noted that, while routes were operating at the time of the meeting, the situation could worsen and required continued attention.
The board approved bus stop designations for the 2025–26 routes and will monitor staffing over the coming weeks.
