Father: Bus driver shortage left Pine Bush students stranded on first day of school

Pine Bush students were allegedly left stranded at the bus stop on the first day of school due to a bus driver shortage.

News 12 Staff

Sep 1, 2021, 10:00 PM

Updated 1,131 days ago

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Pine Bush students were allegedly left stranded at the bus stop on the first day of school due to a bus driver shortage.
"This is the first time in a year and a half they're all going back and you can't get your act together?” questions concerned Pine Bush dad Keith Weschler.
Weschler says his kids waited in the rain at their bus stop for almost an hour before he eventually drove them to school himself.
"The frustrating part is the school points to the bus company and the bus company points to the school,” says Weschler.
The Pine Bush dad tells News 12 parents were notified by email over the weekend that the Birnie Bus, the company hired to pick up students, has a driver shortage.
The driver shortage is a post-pandemic problem being seen nationwide after many drivers were laid off, became ill or quit.
"No one knows anything. They haven't communicated anything. They haven't even apologized to parents,” says Weschler.
In the meantime, parents say they have no idea if kids will be picked up tomorrow – let alone the rest of the school year. 
News 12 reached out to the Pine Bush School District and Birnie Bus, but has not yet heard back.