ROANOKE, Va. — The Roanoke Times reports that the Roanoke County School Board approved on Tuesday a market adjustment to part-time driver pay, increasing the hourly rate for drivers by $3.50, and a $150 attendance bonus for drivers.

The pay hike and bonus were approved as part of an effort to compete with surrounding school systems as well as fill bus driver vacancies after months of controversy over part-time driver benefit cuts, according to the newspaper.

In February, the school board decided to scale back benefits for part-time workers, including cutting retirement benefits and increasing the cost of health care. The decision upset parents and drivers, but with a tightening budget, board members said they had little choice, according to The Roanoke Times.

Some bus drivers called in sick the day after the decision was made in protest, which caused the school system to dismiss students early and forced parents to scramble to pick up children. Additionally, some drivers recently chose to retire or resign, creating concerns about long-term staffing.

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