The region has leaned on the National Guard a lot in recent weeks, from COVID-19 testing centers to supporting area hospitals — and now potentially to help Montgomery County students get to and from school amid a bus driver shortage.

Montgomery County has filed a request to have the National Guard support their public schools with transportation needs, Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Earl Stoddard told councilmembers on Tuesday. He says the request, submitted to the state of Maryland, is still pending.

“My understanding is the National Guard may not be able to help,” said Stoddard, but added that the county is also looking into whether county employees could support schools as another means to bridge gap.

Montgomery County Public Schools students faced transportation issues amid the staffing challenges when they returned from winter break last week. More than 90 bus routes were cancelled according to the school district. “Thanks Mcps for the great bus morning…. 🤬,” tweeted one parent.

In a community update to MCPS families, Interim Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight says they are taking multiple steps to address the bus driver staffing issues, including prioritizing routes that serve students with special needs and relying on available staff to drive multiple routes. The school district will also post updates each day by 7 p.m. on what bus routes will be impacted the following day.

Montgomery County is not alone in its transportation challenges.

This year families in the D.C. public school system – which operates school buses for more than 3,000 students with disabilities – have faced uncertainty about when or if school buses will show up according to Maria Blaeuer, an attorney for Advocates for Justice in Education, an organization that works with students who receive special education services. A couple of families have reported hours-long waits for a bus, she added.

“The bus doesn’t show up, the bus shows up late,” she said. “It’s incredibly anxiety-inducing.”

It’s unclear whether D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is interested in leaning on the National Guard; her press secretary did not immediately respond to request for comment. If she were, as a Mayor and not a Governor, Bowser does not have authority over the National Guard, as many people came to realize during the insurrection.

Multiple states have tapped on the National Guard amid school bus driver shortages. According to an Education Week analysis, at least 11 states have asked their National Guard to support schools amid a bus driver shortage. Guard members in Massachusetts, for example, have reportedly shuttled students to and from school since September.

Debbie Truong contributed to this reporting.