When you think of a school employee, you might initially imagine a teacher or principal. But in addition to those crucial players, schools require cafeteria workers, custodians, school nurses, teachers aides, secretaries, bus drivers, and more to be fully operational.

Today, I want to bring your attention to school bus drivers, as it is National School Bus Safety Week. These drivers are the warm, welcoming faces that our students see every morning, and they are critically important to ensuring students can safely get to class every day.

However, there is a school bus driver shortage across the country this year, including here in Maryland. In Anne Arundel County, bus drivers went on strike for two days to demand better pay and better benefits.

I stand with these bus drivers and back their efforts wholeheartedly. To address this driver shortage, we need to ensure school bus drivers are properly compensated for their labor — labor that is essential to getting children to school. If you agree, will you stand with school bus drivers by signing our petition now? →

These bus drivers are some of the most compassionate people in our communities who care greatly about students. But without sufficient pay or benefits, many are walking away from school bus driving, or in the case of Anne Arundel County, going on strike.

We cannot afford to lose more bus drivers, and we need to bring more people into the profession. But to do so, we have to pay school bus drivers more and ensure they have benefits to help themselves and their families.

So please, stand with me in demanding better conditions for school bus drivers by signing our petition today. →

I appreciate your engagement. Together, we can make schools work better for staff, students, and their families.

-John King Jr.