AUSTINTOWN TWP., Ohio - The Austintown Local School District has put out the call that it is in need of bus drivers.

A news release from the district says schools in the Valley have witnessed a “severe” shortage in bus drivers for the past several years.

As a result, “We may have route issues, we may be notifying parents that their child will be arriving home earlier or later,” explained Superintendent Vincent Colaluca.

The district is considering tiered busing routes if a shortage occurs, in which bus drivers will be running multiple routes in order to get all children to and from school.

“We ask for patience as we try to solve this problem with as little inconvenience for parents and students as possible.” adds Colaluca. “Our goal is to keep parents informed about any changes as soon possible, for everyone’s planning purposes.”

Austintown school officials say they have gone so far as to pay for new bus driver training, and also training administrators to drive large passenger vans during shortage situations.

Colaluca tells 21 news that the district currently has 47 full-time drivers and six, part-time substitute drivers.

The superintendent says he would like to see the hiring of ten more substitutes.

The district says it will cover the cost of obtaining Commercial Driver's Licenses for newly hired drivers. Colaluca says getting a CDL can cost about $260.

The Youngstown City Schools recently hired Austintown Transportation Director Colleen Murphy-Penk as the new executive director of transportation for the city schools.

Colaluca says the loss of Murphy-Penk and two of her employees has nothing to do with the current busing situation in Austintown.

Those interested in becoming a bus driver may find out more at the district website.