Schools struggle to get athletes to games amid bus driver shortage

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Some West Michigan school sports teams are struggling to get transportation to athletic events amid a nationwide bus driver shortage.

Battle Creek Central High School parents have had to carpool and shuttle kids to after school games.

"We had an hour to organize drivers for 68 kids to get to two different places,” said Battle Creek Central High School head football coach Lorin Granger.

• Drivers needed: Battle Creek Public Schools faces another week without bus drivers

Granger said with the bus shortage he didn't know if, or how, his team would get to and from games.

"For us to have to worry right up until the very minute that our bus time is, whether or not we’re going to have a driver, it just creates a level of anxiety," said Granger.

The junior varsity teams at Battle Creek Central found out an hour before their game Monday they had no bus driver.

Granger rallied the community just to get the players a ride.

Parents, alumni and community members lined up to drive players to the games.

"I called and said, 'Hey, I can fit four to five players in my car. I can take them to Marshall at 1:45, I’ll be there,'” Amanda Richey, a parent, said.

Richey said when she saw Granger's post for drivers, she knew she had to step up to help.

"I feel terrible for these kids," she said.

The Battle Creek Central football team had a game scheduled Oct. 1 in Stevensville.

Granger said if the teams don’t make it to the games, they have no choice but to forfeit.

"If we can’t find a driver to drive us 10 minutes to Lakeview, how easy is it going to be get one to drive us two hours away," Granger said.

• Shortage: Kalamazoo Public Schools cancels seven bus routes, impacting 14 schools

Granger's short-term solution was to drive the team himself.

"I’m getting a bus license. I applied today," Granger said.

Granger urged anyone qualified and available in the community to apply to be a bus driver, even if it is part time.

To apply to be a bus driver, visit Battle Creek Public Schools transportation website.

Connect with Emirrora Austin on Facebook at Twitter. Send story ideas to eaustin@sbgtv.com.