JC schools activity buses pick up 3 morning routes amid bus driver shortage

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A bus company that provides routes for activities at the Jefferson City School District will now pick up students for morning routes.

An email sent to parents from the district says that D&K Bus & Charter Services began picking up some students for morning routes on Thursday morning. School spokesman Ryan Burns wrote that the district has an existing contract with the company because of its activity routes.

“D&K Bus & Charter Service will pick up morning/AM routes only for Bus 19 (Moreau Heights, LCMS, JCHS); Bus 21 (North, LCMS, JCHS); and Bus 29 (South, TJMS, CCHS),” the email says.

Student Transportation of America will still cover all drop-off routes, the email says.

D&K is picking up routes “to help alleviate some of the late bus issues,” the district has been experiencing, the email says. The district also cited a bus driver shortage in the email.

“Unfortunately, our district is not immune to the bus driver shortage that 85 percent of districts across the country also experience. We are working with our transportation provider, Student Transportation of America (STA), to better recruit and retain drivers,” the email says.