A shortage of drivers is once again holding back East Baton Rouge Parish in its efforts to improve its much-maligned student transportation system.

Superintendent LaMont Cole on Thursday persuaded the parish School Board to approve new incentives to cover the hole:

A nearly $5-per-hour increase in the rate it pays current drivers willing to run extra routes.

A finder's fee of up to $500 for school employees who refer someone to be a bus driver, and that person stays a while.

In a letter to the board, Cole said the latest changes are needed because there is “a shortage of available drivers, leaving several routes unassigned.”

Rob Howle, director of transportation, said the district is short 49 active drivers.

Faced with a similar shortage this spring, the school system hired private s

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