COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bus driver shortage will impact Columbus City Schools’ transportation schedules for the first few weeks of school, officials reported earlier this week.  

On Tuesday, the district posted an announcement on its website indicating that an effort has fallen through to contract for temporary bus drivers to cover routes while permanent drivers complete their training and earn their commercial driver’s license.

“A shortage of licensed school bus drivers who are available to cover all of the district’s bus routes for the first few weeks of the school year will impact transportation schedules throughout the district,” officials said. “Every effort is being made to cover all routes with existing drivers and to minimize impact to our youngest students.”

High school and middle school routes are expected to run on time for morning pickups, but some morning elementary school routes could potentially run up to 30 minutes late.  

All of the district’s schools will be dismissed at their regularly scheduled times in the afternoon, with elementary and middle school routes expected to run on time for the drive home. Officials said that high school students without Central Ohio Transit Authority passes or a ride will be picked up when buses return to the high school.

On Wednesday, the district posted an update, indicating that students who attend schools with a combined middle and high school configuration will be picked up at their normal times after school.