Government

When the School Bus Doesn’t Come

The school commute is turning into a nightmare for many families, as cities across the US grapple with a severe driver shortage. 

A severe shortage of school bus drivers has thrown many school systems into unprecedented chaos. 

Photographer: Newsday LLC/Newsday RM via Getty Images

When the bells at Iowa’s Pella Community Schools ring at 3 p.m., Greg Ebeling takes a break from his role as superintendent to get behind the wheel of a big yellow bus.

Ebeling and several of his colleagues have taken on second jobs as school bus drivers in response a worker shortage.