Seattle Public Schools to Cut 140 Bus Routes as Vaccine Mandate Drives Staff Shortages

A school bus in a file photo. Illustration - Hmong Windows/Shutterstock

Some 140 school bus routes are being suspended in Seattle, Washington on Monday, as the statewide COVID-19 vaccination mandate takes effect for school district workers, including school bus drivers.

Seattle Public Schools (SPS), which serves more than 52,000 students, announced last week the plan to suspend as many as 142 bus routes. The district said it was anticipating a significant decrease in available bus drivers following the COVID-19 vaccination deadline.