The Massachusetts National Guard has been activated in several cities to help take children to school amid a shortage of bus drivers.
Baker’s statement noted that “as with any school transportation worker, all activated Guard personnel will complete vehicle training to ensure the safety of children and families,” while the drivers will meet requirements for 7D drivers. “Throughout the mission, the Guard will comply with all health and safety measures.”
Chelsea, Massachusetts, is about four miles northeast of Boston, while Lynn, Massachusetts, is about 12 miles north of the city. Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts, are both about 30 miles north of Boston.
“This relationship will continue until we can fill all of our buses and vans with permanent school bus drivers,” Boyd said.
And 15 Guard members will be sent to Chelsea, according to Chelsea Public Schools Superintendent Almi G. Abeyta, who noted that they'll be in uniform and unarmed.
“This will ensure that students are picked up for school on time and returned home on time, so that they can have a productive day in school,” Abeyta said.
Earlier in 2021, the head of Massachusetts’ largest bus transportation provider warned that he was down by about 10 percent of his workforce.
National Guard deployments, as of 2020, appear to be more commonplace. Earlier in 2021, thousands of Guard members were deployed to the U.S. Capitol in Washington following the Jan. 6 breach, while numerous states deployed their National Guards to provide security amid riots, looting, arson incidents, and protests during summer 2020.
The National Guard activated more troops on duty in 2020 than any time since the end of World War II, officials with the military branch said in December 2020.