Charleston Faces School Bus Delays as Parents Raise Concerns

Charleston Faces School Bus Delays as Parents Raise Concerns

Charleston, S.C. – As the second week of school rolls on, many parents in the Charleston County School District (CCSD) are growing increasingly frustrated over ongoing issues with school bus delays. The start of the school year has brought numerous complaints about transportation problems, leaving families feeling the impact.

Parents Share Their Stories

One parent, Kate Buckholz, has three children attending different schools within CCSD. She expressed her concerns regarding her son’s bus service returning from Cario Middle School. “My son rides the bus home and so about 2 pm, I get a message from the bus company that says, ‘oh sorry your route is not running,’ or ‘it has a sub,’” she said. Buckholz noted that sometimes the bus routes are combined, causing her son to arrive home as much as an hour and a half later than expected.

Similar experiences have been echoed across the district, with many parents sharing their frustrations in CCSD’s official Facebook group. Parents have reported long wait times, with some students waiting over an hour for their buses.

District Acknowledges the Issues

In response to these complaints, CCSD held a virtual news conference to address the situation. Superintendent Anita Huggins shared that, to date, the district has received 615 complaints regarding the bus system out of approximately 22,000 students who rely on transportation services. Huggins explained that while 615 complaints seem significant, they represent less than three percent of the student population. She also mentioned that she has been actively responding to many Facebook posts from concerned parents.

The district, which partners with First Student to run most of its 395 bus routes, acknowledged that the shortage of bus drivers has been a key factor in these delays. Huggins emphasized the need for better service as students return to school.

Recruitment Efforts Underway

To combat the shortage of drivers, the district has been working closely with First Student in a bid to recruit more drivers. Gary Reese from First Student reported that they have undertaken an “aggressive recruiting campaign” to fill these positions. The starting pay for new drivers has been set at $22.50 an hour, and experienced drivers with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) can earn up to $31.50 an hour after five years in the role.

CCSD plans to see 14 new drivers start next week. An additional 41 individuals are currently enrolled in a paid training class to get certified and help fill these vital positions.

Understanding Operational Challenges

Elvin Speights, who briefly worked as a bus driver, highlighted some of the challenges facing the drivers during their routes. “There’s a lot of things that hold a driver up,” Speights explained. Factors such as slow-loading students, verifying who is supposed to board the bus, and driver shortages can all contribute to delays.

Need for Patience and Feedback

Amidst the frustrations, Buckholz believes that while the issues may not be the fault of the drivers or schools, there is a need for more transparency from the district and the transportation company. She encouraged other parents to use the district’s complaint log, which helps officials identify patterns and make necessary adjustments moving forward.

As CCSD continues to work on these transportation problems, officials are hopeful that with new drivers starting soon and ongoing recruitment efforts, the situation will improve for families in Charleston.