CHESTERFIELD, Va. -- Students in Chesterfield start school in one week, and the district is now asking parents to drive their kids to school due to a bus driver shortage.
Superintendent Merv Daugherty addressed the shortage in a message posted on the district's social media Sunday, stating the county is short approximately 100 bus drivers.
He said the biggest help would come from parents driving their children to and from school instead of relying on the school buses.
"98% of our students are coming back to school, and we're excited about them coming back, face-to-face instruction, but we're asking you to please drive your child to school," said Daughtery.
The county has held several bus driver job fairs over the summer trying to hire more people.
Daugherty added if your child is signed up to ride a bus, you should check the parent portal to make sure transportation is lined up.
“My question is, why are they just finding out they don’t have drivers?" parent Renee Asby. “What would make them wait until now, I mean school is next week."
The superintendent's request left Asby with more questions.
"How am I going to get my kids to school? How am I going to get them there and how am I going to get them home?" she asked.
In an email to CBS 6, a Chesterfield Schools spokesperson said students would still be transported from the bus stop to school, however, they wanted families to know there could be delays.
If you're interested in job opportunities with Chesterfield County Schools, click here.
