One of our members called this to my attention. Though school bus driver shortages have been for a couple of years already, I guess it's more acute now due to COVID.
Though NYC is not specifically mentioned, the possible solution is in the last paragraph of this article.
"The district also increased bus-driver pay and offered a program to help people get their commercial licenses. In the weeks since, it has seen an uptick in applications."
https://www.newsmax.com/us/Bus-Driver-Shortages/2021/08/22/id/1033326/