Seattle Public Schools to suspend 142 bus routes on Monday

In an email to the families of Seattle Public School students, the district announced the plan to suspend approximately 142 bus routes on Monday.

The email said driver shortages are expected when the Washington law goes into effect requiring all school district employees, including third-party contractors, to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Seattle Public Schools contracts with First Student, a third-party vendor, and does not own or operate school buses.

Students that will continue to receive bus service include those receiving special education services, McKinney Vento and foster students, those with a 504 plan that includes transportation, schools that serve large numbers or high proportions of historically undeserved students, and schools at interim sites.

The district said they will work with schools on a case-by-case basis to address the needs of students who have no other way to get to school.

First Student said they are actively working to hire more drivers and will have routes reinstated as soon as possible.

The latest information can be found on the Seattle Public Schools site here.

©2021 Cox Media Group