A sudden shortage of bus drivers at La Conner Schools is forcing daily routes to be combined while threatening cancellation of student field trips and overnight travel to athletic events.

Randy Swift of the schools short-handed transportation department apprised school board members of the troubling situation during their two-hour meeting Jan. 9.

Swift said one driver retired over winter break. In November supervisor Kim Pedroza left for a similar post with the Stanwood School District.

“We don’t have enough drivers to do our regular routes right now,” Swift said. “We’ve had to...