BUFFALO, N.Y. —  Buffalo Public Schools are working to find ways to combat the national bus driver shortage before the school year starts.

Officials are pondering the idea of offering families who opt-out of transportation services 58.5 cents/mile to transport their kids daily to and from school.

They say this will help ensure bus transportation for students who are most in need of it.

The district has a transportation survey that they'd like parents to fill out.

The school says all families whose children are currently eligible for yellow-bus transportation are asked to complete the survey.

The link can be found here.

School districts across Western New York are working to train and recruit drivers for the upcoming school year.

"There are a lot of people out there that don't even realize this would be an opportunity for them," First Student recruiter Robin Hansen said last week. "We are investing in them and their future career as well as trying to find positive energy people. We want those people that can help motivate and mentor the little people that they're picking up."

Officials say they’ve made a push to have more boots on the ground recruiting now that in-person events are happening again, letting candidates know it's a viable career path.