At first glance, it was dismissal as usual Wednesday for the first day of classes at Kingston High School. 

But that wasn’t the case for hundreds of bus students whose parents got word late Tuesday that there’s no drivers to pick them up or get them home. 

The district sent an email saying nine routes are temporarily canceled because of the ongoing nationwide bus driver shortage that first impacted schools last year. 

Parents reached out to News 12 upset that the district waited until the night before school started to notify them of the shortage. Others took to Facebook to comment about the last-minute inconvenience. 

Kingston has contracts with four bus companies to provide transportation, according to their website. 

News 12 reached out to the district superintendent and high school principal for comment but hasn’t heard back. 

Other parents who aren’t impacted say they understand the district’s predicament. 

“With these situations, you can’t really tell until the day before,” said Badran Abosharr.  

It is not known how long the district will be short on drivers.

News 12 also heard Wednesday from some Newburgh parents who said their students bus routes are also impacted by the shortage, but the district says all routes are fully covered.