Roughly 3,300 Chicago Public Schools students stranded by a steep shortage of bus drivers this fall has fueled a slate of alternate transportation options aimed at safely shuttling kids to and from school each day, CPS officials said Wednesday.

       A dearth of school bus drivers in Illinois and across the U.S. hit a breaking point in the city last month when a wave of driver resignations from private busing contractors prompted the cancellation of bus service for thousands of students, leaving families scrambling on the first day of school.

       Lindy McGuire, the district’s interim chief operating officer, said 97% of students affected by the bus driver shortage have attended school, and officials have begun another round of calls targeting families whose children are not in school.

       Students get on a bus outside of Skinner West Elementary School in Chicago on Aug. 30, the first day of school. Thousands of other students were left without transportation when school started. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

       “We’re working with them individually to overcome obstacles they face in getting required services,” McGuire said at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.

       “We have not removed our foot off the gas in identifying mitigation strategies,” McGuire said.

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       The alternate transportation options are being offered with the goal of prioritizing students with diverse learning needs, CPS’ executive director of student transportation, Kimberly Jones said.

       In addition, CPS is offering financial reimbursement to families transporting their children to school, with the first batch of checks issued last week, Jones said.

       CPS is also hiring private taxi cab companies to transport 120 students, who will be accompanied by bus aides, as well as using vans that can carry eight to 10 people to transport another 75 students, she said.

       Meanwhile, officials are also still trying to recruit school bus drivers by offering financial incentives, including signing bonuses, Jones said.

       kcullotta@chicagotribune.com

       Twitter @kcullotta

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