Fire them. That way they can get unemployment and new drivers can be hired to take the kids back and forth to school.
Giver them a medal for preventing the government run schools from indoctrinating the poor students.
Maybe in Indianapolis and in this economy it would be easy to hire/train replacement drivers, but in Northern VA, it’s awfully difficult. The pay for a starting driver here is (or was) higher than a starting teacher. And they get the same benes.
I’d fight their claim. They refused to show up to work. They quit.
Most states don’t pay unemployment if you were fired for cause.