Massachusetts activates National Guard — to drive school buses
The driver on the bus goes… to work in a military uniform.
Massachusetts activated the National Guard on Monday to deal with a school bus driver shortage throughout the state.
Starting Tuesday, 90 Guard members will begin training to drive buses in four cities near Boston, Gov. Charlie Baker announced in a press release. Eventually, up to 250 Guard members could be driving buses throughout Massachusetts.
Guard personnel will be in uniform but unarmed, according to a statement from Chelsea Public Schools, which is one of the four districts — Lawrence, Lowell and Lynn are the others — that will be taking advantage of the program as soon as possible.
A major Massachusetts transportation provider lost 10% of its workforce from last school year, local public radio station WGBH reported. That lack of drivers led to a chaotic first week of school in Massachusetts, with many buses arriving late.
According to Baker, the shortage is COVID-related. The governor said drivers were choosing to remain home rather than enter enclosed spaces with children who cannot yet be vaccinated.
All Guard personnel must obtain commercial driver’s licenses before they begin driving the buses, Baker said.
Massachusetts is not the only state dealing with a bus driver shortage, but so far it is the only one to call in the National Guard to help.
