NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Nashville Public Schools has issued a warning to parents that their child's bus service may be disrupted Friday.
MNPS believes Antioch families will be the most impacted by a bus driver shortage today, that could be caused by a potential sick-out involving drivers.
The district sent an email to parents of Antioch students on Thursday night, saying in part, "We are piloting some alternative solutions to ensure all students are picked up, but this may involve different buses or drivers than you may normally be used to."
Read the district's full email to parents below:
Hello (McGavock/Antioch Cluster Families), this call is to let you know that due to a continued driver shortage on Friday, there may be some more than usual disruptions in transportation.
We are piloting some alternative solutions to ensure all students are picked up, but this may involve different buses or drivers than you may normally be used to. As all routes are different, our transportation team will work to communicate changes to schedules or delays to schools so that they can be communicated out to families.
Car rider and carpool opportunities are encouraged when available to reduce any delays to and from school.
MNPS, along with all districts, has experienced school bus driver shortages this school year. We will continue to explore all opportunities and strategies to improve driver attendance and expand our pool of drivers so students are picked up and dropped off on time and we can limit disruptions to the learning environment.
The district said it will try to communicate all changes, but they encourage car pools today.
The president of the drivers' union said the district is short about 200 drivers right now and some routes are overcrowded.
Metro bus drivers just held a rally a few weeks ago, demanding better pay and benefits amid a staffing shortage.
