Boston Students Ride Party Bus With Stripper Pole Amid Driver Shortage

Amid an ongoing shortage of bus drivers, high school students in Boston were forced to ride on a party bus for their field trip. According to one of the teachers, the bus featured neon lights and a stripper pole, typical of a party bus.

“It is a funny story, but there actually is a real bus shortage, and it speaks to major flaws in our education system,” Jim Mayers, an 11th grade AP language & composition teacher for the Brooke Charter School in Boston, wrote in a now-deleted tweet. “This in no way is a reflection of anyone involved in planning the trip, we were trying to have a fun day with the kids, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The original charter bus fell through, prompting the students to ride in the party bus. Mayers said the kids didn’t seem to mind, and the day turned out “fantastic.”

He did encourage people to call their local officials, PennLive reports, and demand more funding for school systems. 

“Including paying all bus drivers, facilities, and operations staff a competitive salary & comprehensive benefits. Whatever you think is enough, double it,” he wrote in the thread.