(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The head of the Chicago Public Schools says problems with a school bus routes and a driver shortage are being resolved — if not eliminated — this holiday weekend.
The shortage of school bus drivers is a national phenomenon. But, that’s no comfort to Chicago parents whose kids are awaiting buses.
And, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez concedes, it can mean some very long bus routes.
He said he first wondered why so many CPS bus drivers were leaving for the suburbs. Then he learned suburban districts were paying more. So Chicago raised its rates, but all schools are competing for drivers with Amazon, Wal-Mart and other players.
Martinez said 80% of bus rides are less than an hour, but children from 360 families have rides of up to an hour and a half.
He promises that by this Tuesday all families that made timely requests for bus service improvements will be accommodated.
This is the first school year to start under Martinez.
He is the guest on this weekend’s edition of “At Issue,” which airs at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
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