Monday’s first day at Rutherford County Schools arrived with a familiar challenge.¶
The district confirmed that two of its more than 1,000 bus runs were without a driver at the start of the week.¶
“Rutherford County Schools welcomed back more than 50,000 students for the first full day of school today,” said the district in a statement provided Monday. “As part of the back-to-school season, we also have more than 1,000 bus runs, and like many other districts in the area, we are working diligently to find bus drivers and contractors to fill all routes. As of this morning, we have all but two runs covered. One is a run at John Colemon Elementary in Smyrna and the other is at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro. In the meantime, we have communicated to those parents who are affected, and we greatly appreciate their patience and understanding as we work to resolve the issue.”¶
History of Busing Challenges
Unlike Metro Nashville Public Schools, Rutherford County does not retain school bus drivers as full-time employees. Instead, it hires more than 120 contractors to provide transportation for students. ¶
Last February, a lapse in insurance coverage left 41 school bus routes without service for a brief time. The contract arrangement has also led to conflict over working conditions, pay, and even routes.¶
In early 2025, the district narrowly avoided a strike when school bus drivers sent a letter threatening to stop service due to the board’s reluctance to negotiate a new deal. The following May, board members approved a new contract that included a 17 percent raise in the first year, a 2.5 percent raise for the next three years, and a $4,000 stipend for drivers to pay for their own bus insurance.¶
The district has also considered buying its own school buses to address uncovered routes, and lowering the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 23 to address driver shortages.¶
