Cumberland Valley, PA – Bus Driver Shortage Leads to Cancellations in Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township School Districts

On August 26, 2025, a significant bus driver shortage prompted the Cumberland Valley School District to cancel several bus runs, impacting multiple school buildings. Specifically, five bus routes were reported as canceled on the same day, necessitating families to make alternate arrangements.

Notifications regarding the cancellations were sent to families around 1:30 PM, just hours before the end of the school day. Cumberland Valley School District serves a large student population of over 10,500 across its 13 schools. This disruption coincided with the Susquehanna Township School District’s decision to close two elementary schools, Anna Carter Primary and Thomas Holtzman Elementary, due to similar transportation difficulties linked to the driver shortage.

Susquehanna Township School District officials indicated that their transportation issues are part of a broader concern affecting many districts statewide. They noted that the driver shortages became evident late the previous evening, complicating timely communication with families regarding school schedules. Both Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township School Districts warned families in advance about potential delays and cancellations stemming from ongoing shortages of bus drivers supplied by transportation providers.

Transportation Provider Challenges

Cumberland Valley School District addressed the challenges posed by the driver shortage in a letter to families, acknowledging the disruptions while thanking them for their understanding. The district is committed to informing families of delays or cancellations by 8 PM the evening prior; however, they noted that last-minute changes might still arise.

Superintendent Mark A. Blanchard recognized the support from families as the district continues to navigate these issues in collaboration with their transportation partners. Families were prompted to verify their contact information in the district’s Skyward system and to complete a Transportation Survey to facilitate improved route efficiency.

Meanwhile, Susquehanna Township School District has also been proactive in communicating transportation updates for the rest of the week using their Campus Messenger System. Superintendent Dr. Tamara Willis underscored the importance of reliable transportation while emphasizing the district’s commitment to explore long-term solutions.

Efforts to Address the Driver Shortage

Transportation companies such as Shultz Transportation, which serves multiple districts including both Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township, are struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels. In response, they are implementing various strategies aimed at retaining bus drivers. Concurrently, Rohrer Bus, another transportation provider, is intensifying recruitment efforts and adjusting training protocols to help mitigate the driver shortage.

As school districts approach the new academic year amid these challenges, the importance of reliable transportation remains a pressing concern for families and district officials alike.

• What caused the bus cancellations in Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township? A bus driver shortage led to the cancellations of multiple bus routes in both districts.
• How many students are affected by the cancellations in Cumberland Valley? Over 10,500 students across 13 schools are enrolled in the Cumberland Valley School District.
• What steps are the school districts taking to inform families? Both districts are attempting to communicate disruptions by notifying families through their respective systems and encouraging the completion of transportation surveys.
• What is being done to address the driver shortage? Transportation providers like Shultz Transportation and Rohrer Bus are working on retention strategies and recruitment efforts to increase bus driver staffing levels.
• What can families do to stay updated? Families are encouraged to keep their contact information updated in the district systems to receive timely notifications regarding transportation updates.