School bus driver shortage continues for 3rd week with 'significant' consequences

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) saysit knows parents' patience is draining as a school bus driver shortage remains unresolved for a third straight week.

As of Friday, 685 students are still affected by the shortage, TDSBspokesmanRyan BirdtoldCBCNews. That's aboutabout half the number of students that wereaffected at the beginning of the school year.

A further 1,300 students in the Toronto Catholic District School Board and some 1,200 more across 21 routes shared by thePeel District School Board andDufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board have also been without service or dealt with delays this month.

Bird says there simply aren't enough drivers to fill all of the routes at this time.Meanwhile some parents, like Eric Newstadt, continue to scramble to get their children to school.

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"My son hasn't been at school on timeseveral times over the last two and a bit weeks," Newstadt told CBC News on Monday.

Newstadt's 5-year-old son just started kindergarten at Dewson Street Junior Public School. Newstadt says he checked the TDSBwebsiteMonday morning where he saw a notice that his son's bus would be 10 minutes late but it wound up being more than 30 minutes behind schedule.It's a problem he's experienced numerous times since the start of the school year.

"Like I've done frequently over the three weeks, I hopped in a cab and took my son to school and then made my way to work," he said.

His son made it to school, albeit half an hour late. Newstadt himself was an hour late for work.

'There's only so much we can do'

Bird admits the TDSB's bus service has been exceptionally bad this year but that the situation is improving daily.

Still, he says, ifthere are not enough bus drivers, "there's only so much we can do."

Bird says the board is working with carriers to try to get as many busses on the road as possible butthe delays are likely to continue into next week.

"We do realize that there are still a lot of frustrated parents out there and while we appreciate their patience, we realize that is quickly draining," he said.

That's cold comfort for parents whose children remain without the service or who are coping with late buses.

"The consequences for me are significant," Newstadt said. "I'mhere later, I'm working longer and that doesn't make pickup any easier."