Union Public Schools Bus Service Canceled Due To COVID-19 Impacting Staffing

Thursday, Union parents were scrambling to figure out how to get their kids to school after Union Public Schools announced the cancelation of their bus service for the rest of the week.

Union said the reason is because dozens of their eligible bus drivers are in quarantine or isolation because of COVID-19. 

“We were at the point where 45 percent of our eligible bus drivers were out either on quarantine or isolation due to COVID," said Chris Payne. 

Chris Payne with Union Public Schools said 83 transportation department employees are eligible bus drivers and 37 of them are in quarantine. He said school districts already struggle to get bus drivers and it's been even more difficult during the pandemic.

“We always have a shortage and we depend on other office workers, mechanics, other people in transportation to help as subs and we just hit that point where just don’t have enough to make it work," said Payne.

He said the district made the tough decision to cancel the bus pick ups for Thursday and Friday. It won’t impact grades sixth and up since they are already distance learning.

He said they are continuing in person-learning for elementary students. 

“The thinking was that it would be better to keep the kids in school. Those grades so better in person and we felt like it would be more convenient for parents to have them in school," said Payne.

Payne said this is the first time in the district's history they've canceled bus services and hope to have them running again after the Thanksgiving break.