FAIRBORN — Children were left at home Tuesday morning because their school bus didn’t show up.
News Center 7′s Malik Patterson spoke to parents who are now demanding answers about the bus driver shortage in a Greene County school district. Hear why they are frustrated on News Center 7 at 5 p.m.
One parent said the problem is so bad, she wants to put her kids in a new school district.
Bus Route 33-I was a no-show at the Landmark Village Apartments in Fairborn. According to some parents, this has been an issue since last year.
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“All the days he missed last year was because of the bus,” Lilly Hall told News Center 7.
Hall said this is the first excused absence due to busses this year, but she is frustrated at the time of day she finds out.
“You get woke up with the phone calls, and they try and do emails or Facebook. but no it’s always first thing in the morning,” Hall said.
On Tuesday, parents were notified at 5:30 a.m.
District spokeswoman Pam Gayheart told News Center 7 routes are canceled as soon as the transportation supervisor is made aware. At that point, they tell the parents.
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Tuesday was also a big field trip day, but there were a few students who didn’t get to go because the bus never picked them up.
“He was supposed to be on a field trip to Wright State but I can’t be here in the afternoon to pick him up because I have a special needs son,” Hall said.
Hall’s other son who goes to Fairborn Primary School has a different bus driver who picked him up.
“When I was a kid we always had a plethora of backup school bus drivers. I’ve lived in Fairborn my whole life,” Hall said.
According to the district, these cancellations are because bus drivers are sick.
Two days of bus cancelations— On Monday three bus routes were cancelled and on Tuesday there were two more.
“We’re not going to be in the Fairborn school district much longer but I would like to see it changed for those who are going to see it changed in the future,” said Renee Brown, another parent.
Hall said something has to change, and the district said they are hiring more drivers.
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