Some Seattle Public Schools bus routes to be cancelled due to staffing shortages

Some SPS school bus routes impacted by staffing shortage

Washington's largest school district was embroiled in months of debates over who would provide transportation for kids, and how many routes they would cover.

SEATTLE - Just a week out from the start of the school year, Seattle Public Schools has come to an agreement with First Student and startup competitor Zum to provide transportation to students.

Washington's largest school district was embroiled in months of debates over who would provide transportation for kids, and how many routes they would cover. The decision revolved around First Student, which faced hundreds of safety violations which have since been settled with the state, and Zum.

The district came to a decision and contracted both, splitting a $45 million budget and assigning each company 184 routes.

On Wednesday, First Student announced it has agreed to take 78 school bus routes previously awarded to Zum. The startup admitted it lacked the drivers and buses to fulfill the terms of their contract, according to the news release.

Despite this, SPS announced last week they would be canceling some bus routes due to staff shortages.

"It is the intent of the district to assign approximately half of its bus routes to each contractor. At the start of the 2022-23 school year, the district requested that First Student take on additional routes while Zum ramps up to its full capacity as anticipated over the first semester," the district said in a statement.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Seattle Public Schools announces temporary cancelations of bus routes due to staff shortages

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First Student will cover the 78 additional routes until January, bringing its total to 262 routes.

FOX 13 News reached out to ZUM who provided this statement:

"We share the view of Seattle Public Schools that Zum's transition is proceeding as planned and looking great on the ground. For weeks before Zum's contract was confirmed in August, we have been working hand-in-hand with the district to solve long-standing challenges."

FOX 13 News also reached out to SPS about this information who also provided a statement that reads in part:

"Both First Student and Zum are committed to providing excellent service to SPS students. It is the intent of the district to assign approximately half of its bus routes to each contractor. At the start of the 2022-23 school year, the district requested that First Student take on additional routes while Zum ramps up to its full capacity as anticipated over the first semester."

The district also said several bus routes may be canceled at the start of the year due to staffing. They have not announced which routes will be impacted, but say families will find out before the first day of school.