Rochester, IL (WAND) — School is back in session across the state. Many Central Illinois school districts are facing bus driver shortages.

The Rochester School District is hopeful to attract more applicants by offering initiatives and signing bonuses. The district is also willing to pay for the bus driver training and physicals needed before starting the position.

“They are the first people our students see and the last people that they see each day” says Superintendent Dan Cox. “It’s just not taking any good or service across the community. It’s our children and there’s real relationships there.”

Now, the Rochester School District is doing double routes to and from school with groups of students, as well as extending their hours for families to drop off their kids to school.

The district hopes that their incentives are able to bring in more bus drivers now, as the school year begins.