has issued an apology after the majority of schools within the district were impacted by the bus driver shortage.
The school district tells ABC11 that
33 schools were impacted by the absence of 26 drivers
on Monday.
According to DPS,
is one reason drivers say they aren’t showing up.
“Come on now. You can’t take people’s money like that,” said one bus driver who wanted to remain anonymous. “We don’t trust management. Those people making the decisions that affect our paychecks.”
Several bus drivers said this situation started months back. They said were promised a $1500 bonus that they received, but their next paycheck came up short. They claimed the district stopped paying drivers for their years of experience.
“They stopped that and said we’re no longer paying you for your years of experience. People’s wages are going down,” said the bus driver.
There were long lines outside Merrick Moore School with parents on pick-up patrol. For parents like Chris Baker, it’s created a headache.