Seven-year-old Laike Glesne faced a challenging two-hour commute each school day, traveling from his home to Ted Lenart Regional Gifted Center in Chicago. His journey involved multiple public transportation modes, as Chicago Public Schools suspended bus services for magnet and selective enrollment students due to a bus driver shortage. This situation left Laike and his mother, Marissa Lichwick-Glesne, navigating unsafe environments, such as streets filled with unhoused individuals and late-night partygoers. Lichwick-Glesne felt panic upon realizing the impact of this change on their daily routine, which left little time for after-school activities. The nationwide bus driver shortage, exacerbated by the pandemic, has become a persistent issue, forcing many parents to resort to rideshares and adjust their work schedules to ensure their children can attend school. The number of bus drivers has decreased by 15% from September 2019 to September 2023, reflecting a broader trend of reduced transportation access for students.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/09/16/school-bus-routes-cut-national/74530058007
