Wake County schools expand parent-transport list amid driver shortage

The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is expanding its non-transportation zones to nine additional schools due to a persistent shortage of full-time bus drivers. This expansion brings the total number of schools where families must provide their own transportation to 130. The district is attempting to manage 565 bus routes by utilizing multiple vendors for students with disabilities and reassigning personnel from within the transportation department.

Local educators, including the Wake County chapter of the NCAE, have criticized the shortage, stating that drivers are underpaid and overstretched. Wake School Board Chair Tyler Swanson acknowledged that recruitment remains difficult and noted that compensation is a key factor in addressing the staffing gap.

In conjunction with these logistical challenges, safety organizations like AAA are highlighting increased risks during the back-to-school season. Drivers are being urged to exercise heightened caution in school zones due to increased pedestrian activity, school bus stops, and the rising popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters among students.