Schools facing major bus driver shortages across the country

(KYMA, KECY/ CNN) - As classrooms re-open for in-person instructions this fall, almost every school district in the country is reporting a shortage of bus drivers.

Many districts report being between 10% to 20% short of necessary bus drivers to begin the school year and that is because some older drivers resigned after worrying about being exposed to young unvaccinated children, while others quit over requirements to get a vaccine.

A school bus contractor says he has been losing drivers to delivery services like Amazon and rideshare companies like Uber.

Families whose kids are left out are being given $1,000 stipends for the first two weeks of school to cover the cost of getting them to school.

School administrators expect the bus driver shortage to persist until after the holidays.