News Summary
Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township faced significant transportation challenges on August 26 due to a bus driver shortage, resulting in canceled routes and school closures. The situation has affected thousands of students and prompted swift communication with families about alternative transportation arrangements. Both school districts are actively working on strategies to address the issue and stabilize bus services.
Cumberland Valley, PA — Bus Driver Shortage Causes School Transportation Disruptions
Multiple school districts in Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township experienced significant transportation disruptions on August 26, 2025, due to a widespread shortage of bus drivers. These shortages led to cancellations of several bus routes, affecting thousands of students and prompting urgent communication with families about alternative arrangements.
Bus Cancellations and Affected Districts
The Cumberland Valley School District canceled five bus routes on the morning of August 26, impacting students across its 13 schools and more than 10,500 students. Families received notifications around 1:30 PM informing them of these cancellations and were advised to make their own arrangements for student transportation.
Simultaneously, Susquehanna Township School District had to close two elementary schools—Anna Carter Primary and Thomas Holtzman Elementary—due to “unexpected transportation issues.” These issues originated from a bus driver shortage affecting multiple districts statewide.
Challenges in Communicating Delays
Both districts reported that they learned of the driver shortages late in the evening preceding the scheduled school days. This timing made it difficult to notify families promptly and plan for potential disruptions. Despite efforts to provide advance notice, last-minute changes sometimes became unavoidable, leading to additional confusion and inconvenience for families.
Underlying Causes and Broader Impact
The transportation issues are primarily linked to ongoing shortages of bus drivers from contracted bus companies, which serve multiple school districts in the region. These contracting agencies have reported difficulty maintaining adequate staffing levels due to labor shortages and competitive job markets.
Shultz Transportation, the provider servicing both Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township districts, is actively working to address these staffing challenges through various retention strategies. Similarly, Rohrer Bus, another key contractor, has increased its recruitment efforts and is adjusting its training procedures to attract and retain more drivers.
District Responses and Communication Efforts
Cumberland Valley School District issued a comprehensive letter to families explaining the nature of the driver shortage and its impact on bus services. The district’s goal is to communicate delays or cancellations by 8 PM the night before school days, though it acknowledged that some last-minute changes are inevitable.
Superintendent Mark A. Blanchard emphasized the district’s appreciation for the patience and understanding of families during this time. Families are urged to verify their contact details in the district’s Skyward system and complete the Transportation Survey to enhance route efficiency and expedite communication.
Susquehanna Township School District plans to send ongoing transportation updates for the upcoming week through its Campus Messenger System. Superintendent Dr. Tamara Willis highlighted the importance of dependable transportation and noted that the district is working on long-term solutions to mitigate future disruptions.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Outlook
Both districts, along with their transportation contractors, are committed to resolving the driver shortage issue. They are exploring various strategies, including increased driver recruitment, expanded training programs, and improved work conditions, to stabilize bus services and reduce the likelihood of cancellations moving forward.
The transportation crisis underscores a broader statewide challenge affecting numerous school districts. The ongoing efforts aim to ensure students can safely and reliably arrive at and depart from school, despite current staffing shortages.
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Additional Resources
- ABC 27: Cumberland Valley School District Experiences Bus Cancellations
- WGAL: PA School Bus Driver Shortage – Classes Canceled
- PennLive: Bus Shortage Shuts Down Dauphin County Schools
- CBS News: Winter Storm Delays and Cancellations
- Google Search: Bus Driver Shortage
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