Portage County schools and RTA’s experience bus driver shortage

For students nationwide, classes are winding down before holiday break, yet their school districts are still scrambling to find a way to get them there. According to a survey from Hop Skip Drive, a school transportation service, 92 percent of US schools reported a bus driver shortage in 2023.

Most of Ohio’s school districts reported that they’ve experienced some type of driver shortage, according to Doug Palmer, Transportation Consultant for Ohio’s School Board Association.

But, School Districts are not the only ones feeling the burden. PARTA also reports they have struggled getting drivers behind the wheel since the pandemic.

TV2’s Alexandria Manthey spoke with PARTA and local schools on how they’ve been able to minimize the effects on passengers.