AUBURN, Maine (WGAN) School bus routes are being canceled in Auburn as the district struggles to recruit drivers.

The Sun Journal reports that the district has eight open positions for drivers, with two staff members leaving last week to work at other districts.

Superintendent Cornelia Brown called the shortage a crisis, but says the pandemic has not had a significant impact on staffing. She says they’ve been unable to offer incentive bonuses to attract new drivers without first negotiating with a newly-formed bus driver union.

For now, Brown says drivers have been able to take on the additional routes, but there are no substitute drivers, forcing them to cancel routes if a driver calls out.

In some cases, parents were informed of cancelled bus runs the morning of classes.