Newport News Public Schools faces a shortage of bus drivers going into the 2025-2026 school year due to unsafe working conditions and poor wages being unaddressed by the School Board despite years of protest.  This shortage of drivers has resulted in a last minute schedule change to bussing despite the afterschool program for the semester being set by Newport News Parks and Recreation.   Parents are now scrambling to find childcare for students while bus drivers continue to suffer intolerable conditions.  We urge the Newport News Public Schools Board to fully commit to raising wages and improving working conditions for all Newport News Public Schools staff, prioritizing the bus drivers.  We also demand an immediate solution to the scheduling issue to mitigate the impact on students and their families.