SAN ANTONIO - Northside ISD says their buses are at capacity with students sitting three to a seat. But their bus driver shortage is so severe, some students face a wait upwards to an hour.

Bus driver Pat Santos plays a big role in getting many Northside ISD students to school each day. But she needs help. There’s a lack of drivers in the district.

“They’re having to wait because the rain and stuff - the weather conditions. To me, it’s like I feel bad, you know?" said Santos.

Northside is the largest school district in the area and the 4th largest in the state with approximately 14,000 employees. But the district says they still have hundreds of positions to fill. They range from 200 teacher vacancies to 50 bus driver openings.

Santos hopes a recent approval from the school board to increase hourly rates of certain employee groups that have high vacancy rates, such as bus drivers, will help recruit and retain drivers.

"We try our best to come to work every day but eventually with this shortage of drivers it takes a toll it begins to affect us," said Santos.

Northside ISD approved increased hourly rates for these other employee groups with high vacancy rates: child nutrition and custodial departments, CDL bus drivers, and some instructional assistants.

Meanwhile, smaller districts are feeling the staff exodus from public education too. A district official from Edgewood ISD says she receives at least one resignation letter a day from someone in the district.

“As time goes on, people are thinking this is not what they want to do anymore. So people are leaving the profession in droves," said Olga Moucoulis.

Moucoulis adds while the district may not be able to stop the daily resignations any time soon, she says education will always be the district’s number one priority.

“It may look a little different because we may have to have a substitute or a paraprofessional in there, but education is still going to be going on," said Moucoulis.