MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — Thousands of local students are searching for alternative transportation this week after a sudden insurance lapse sidelined dozens of school buses.

Rutherford County Schools (RCS) officials announced that approximately 40 buses are prohibited from operating through Tuesday. The disruption stems from an owner-contractor losing their mandatory insurance coverage. Unlike many districts, RCS utilizes a system where the School Board contracts with independent owners rather than maintaining a centralized fleet.

James Evans, spokesperson for Rutherford County Schools, confirmed that the district is currently negotiating with other private contractors to fill the service gaps. Parents whose children are on the impacted routes can expect direct communication from the transportation department regarding the status of their specific buses.

Impact on Attendance and Scheduling - The district has stated that any student absences or tardiness resulting from the lack of bus service will be officially excused. While only specific routes are grounded, administrators warned that the reshuffling of resources might cause ripple-effect delays across the entire district’s transportation network on Monday and Tuesday.

Next Steps for the School Board - A special-called meeting of the Rutherford County School Board is scheduled for Tuesday. The primary objective of the session is to address the ongoing insurance conflict with the contractor and finalize a long-term plan for route coverage. Following the meeting, the district intends to provide families with a comprehensive update on when regular service will resume.

List of Affected Bus Routes: The following bus numbers are currently out of service:

• 10-99: 12, 16, 27, 39, 61, 65, 75, 84, 96, 97

• 100-199: 100, 114, 115, 129, 130, 140, 160, 168, 176, 187, 189, 195, 199

• 200-299: 204, 211, 212, 215, 220, 227, 237, 244, 258, 290

• 300+: 303, 309, 313, 315, 320, 323, 326, 327