TDSB staff will supervise students as school bus driver shortage continues for 2nd week

Toronto's biggest school board says staff are prepared to supervise children who arrive early or are forced to remain late as a school bus shortage continues.

In a letter distributed Friday, Toronto District School Board director of education John Malloy said 1,275 students at 50 different schools continue to be impacted by the shortage. And while minor transportation pitfalls aren't uncommon at the start of the school year, this year's shortage "cannot be solved immediately," he said.

Parents and guardians of the affected students can expect a letter from their schools with pick-up and drop-off times for the coming week, the board says. 

Staff will also be on hand to watch students who are dropped off early, or who are late to leave schools, because of the delays.

"The Toronto Student Transportation Group … have assured us that they are doing everything they can to resume full service as soon as possible," Malloy said in the letter.

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When exactly that will be remains unknown. But for children in Toronto Catholic board schools, there is some relief in sight.

The TCDSB told CBC News one of the transportation companies it works with has agreed to take on three more routes. Spare drivers from outside the region could also be brought in to help, communications coordinator John Yan said.

That could offset the shortage on up to 15 of the routes affected during the first week of school. Another 15 routes could have service later in the week, Yan added.

The measures could mean fewer headaches for some parents scrambling to get their kids to school on time. But for many others, Monday still won't be their favourite day of the week.