A shortage of bus driver's at the Union Local School District is forcing some staff members to pick up the slack.

Superintendent Kirk Glasgow said the district lost two drivers who left to work for the oil and gas industry last year before the end of the school year.

"They needed bus drivers. They paid them double what we can pay them, but again it's not forever," Glasgow said.

While two drivers may not seem like a big loss, it is for Union Local because the district's drivers cover 150 square miles a day, with the furthest travel time taking about 30 or 40 minutes one way.

Now, the district has just 14 buses with the same number of routes and has been forced to consolidate routes to cut costs.

A decade ago there were 21 or 22 routes.

Glasgow said officials had to get creative with transportation for special events. In some cases, that means bumping back the start times of events so the normal route isn't interrupted.

"We can't afford to put any more bus drivers on because we can't find the bus drivers and we don't have the money to do that," he said.

Glasgow said the bus transportation supervisor, mechanic and a maintenance worker all with commercial driving licenses have been picking up the slack.

But a solution to the problem isn't easy. Officials said there are many mandatory steps to the position and each comes with a price tag. But, Glasgow said in Union Local's district, drivers can eventually earn part or all of the initial costs back. He also said the district pays 90 percent of health benefits.

"That's something that I would hope makes us attractive to prospective bus drivers," he said.

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