No relief yet from bus driver shortages for Guilford's urban high schools

Guilford County Schools is extending a suspension of school bus service for some students as a shortage of bus drivers continues. 

School officials say almost a third of the county's school bus drivers are unavailable because of vacancies, leave of absences or illnesses. They say a high number of COVID cases in the county is partly to blame.

Earlier this month, the school system announced a temporary bus service suspension to eight high schools in Guilford County. Because the driver shortage has not improved, school officials say they're not yet able to resume that transportation.

Guilford County Schools has partnered with public transit agencies in Greensboro and High Point that allow affected students to ride free on city buses using their student ID cards.

There's also a shuttle service running to some large apartment complexes and neighborhoods with high student populations. Those shuttle buses are being driven by school staff who have commercial driver's licenses.

The affected schools are Andrews, High Point Central and Kearns Academy in High Point; and Dudley, Grimsley, Page, Smith and The Academy at Smith in Greensboro.

Guilford County Schools officials have not given a timetable for when the regular bus service will resume.