Bus Driver Shortage Forces North Hills Flexible Instruction Day

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA — An expected bus driver shortage has prompted North Hills School District to hold a flexible instruction day for students on Wednesday.

The district's transportation contractor, ABC Transit Inc., has notified the district that 15 larger buses will be unavailable for afternoon runs on Wednesday as their drivers will be attending the funeral of Nancy Von Vreckin. The district's longest tenured bus driver, Ms. Von Vreckin, 81, died in her home on Oct. 11.

Having those buses grounded leaves more than 2,700 students without transportation home on Wednesday, so the district decided to go with flexible instruction for the day. Teachers and staff will provide students with information on the assignments they will need to complete asynchronously on Wednesday.

ABC Transit currently is involved in contract talks with the union representing North Hills drivers. The district cautioned on Monday that while officials are hopeful a new agreement will be reached, a strike authorization is possible and transportation services could be interrupted in early November.

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