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Metro East school bus driver shortage

According to the Illinois Bus Company, it's all because of a bus driver shortage.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — It’s almost time for kids to head back to school but those who use the bus in some Illinois school districts may have some changes in transportation this school year.

According to the Illinois Bus Company, it’s all because of a bus driver shortage.

Multiple districts in metro east including O’Fallon, Alton, Granite City and East St. Louis are all in need bus drivers. Organizers said the district is short around 60 drivers in the area and this is the worst shortage they’ve ever seen.

The company bus lot in Alton is filled with hiring signs in efforts to attract any prospective drivers.

According to Illinois Central School Bus human resource professional Natalee Wiesman, some of the big reasons for the lack of drivers is because it’s a part time job and it requires obtaining a commercial driver’s license which can sometimes be a deterrent.

"This year is an extreme, we are very much hurting and we need people. We've done newspaper articles it’s on our Facebook page, I was on the radio station so were just trying to reach out to the community asking them for help trying to get the kids to school on time,” Wiesman said.

For anyone interested in applying to be a school bus driver in the metro east click here.

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