Massachusetts Calls On The National Guard To Mitigate A School Bus Driver Shortage

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A Boston Public School shown earlier this month. Gov. Charlie Baker is calling up National Guard members to help alleviate a school-bus driver shortage in some areas of the state.

Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Shortages have been reported in places such as New York state and Portland, Ore., and in Montana, a school district is offering $4,000 bonuses for new drivers.

The Massachusetts governor, discussing his state’s shortage, said: «Once it became pretty clear that there were going to be some communities shorthanded — it wasn’t going to be a vehicle issue, it was going to be people with [commercial driver’s licenses] — we started talking to the Guard.»

Baker said his office had enlisted Guard members who already had such licenses for professional or Guard-related reasons.

«There are a bunch of communities who have said they’re interested in this, and we’re glad to be able to help because it’s important,» Baker said.

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