A Jefferson County school bus driver was in for a surprise Monday morning when he went to start his route, and his bus was nowhere to be found.

Sheriff’s deputies were notified about the missing bus at 6:45 a.m.

Lt. Joni Money said the driver parked the Jefferson County Board of Education school bus at the West Jefferson Town Hall building on Friday afternoon. When he returned to the bus this morning to begin his route, he discovered the bus was missing.

The bus is number 12-24, with license plate number 51932C0. It was taken from 7000 West Jefferson Road in Quinton at about 3:35 a.m. Monday, Money said.

A substitute bus was used to transport students, school officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 205-325-1450, option 2.