As students head back to the school for the year, many districts are facing a shortage of bus drivers. 

Recent surveys found that 90 percent of school districts face some level of a driver shortage.  

Warren City Schools are still in need of drivers to cover its 24 bus routes.

"We really could use another ten bus drivers here," said Warren Schools Director of Business Operations Michael Wasser.

Bus driver requirements include a drug test, background check, physical and a commercial drivers license, all of which could total $200  out of pocket.

However, Warren is offering incentives to offset some of that cost.

"We pay for their tests, we also have decided to use them as bus aides, and we pay them $10 an hour while they're going through the process to become a bus driver for us," Wasser said.

Is there anything that can be done on the state level to help solve the problem of retaining bus drivers? 

National education analyst Phillip Burgoyne-Allen of Bellwether Education Partners said state policymakers need to take steps to help local districts that can't afford to help themselves.

"States need to step in by increasing overall funding for school transportation. States can help provide more support for districts so they can afford things like raising wages for school bus drivers in order to compete with other sectors," said Allen.

Bus driver pay around the Valley ranges between $14 to $19 an hour for an average of four to five and a half hours per day.

Driver shortages are less of a problem if districts also offer benefits.

Boardman runs 57 bus routes but is not experiencing a shortage of drivers.

"Some of them do work here for the benefits, but I think that's a plus for this job. It's a great job but having the benefits is, of course, is a plus," said Ryan Dunn, Boardman Transportation Supervisor. 

Some districts also are considering training teachers to double as bus drivers.