LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – Losing two bus drivers from the staff meant several students at Purnell Swett High School have been waiting until after 8:30 a.m. to be picked up. This means they are late for the 7:45 a.m. bell, and now parents want to know how the school district plans to fix it.
“They told me they were short school bus drivers.”
Chandra Short said her son and several classmates sometimes wait hours for their school bus. She said a late start to his day means missing important learning time. She said aside from her son getting to school late, she’s also worried about kids waiting for the bus close to a busy road in downtown Maxton.
“Anything can happen,” Short explained. “It’s early morning, it’s kinda dark, truckers are going back and forth, and the kids are here.”
To find out exactly what’s going on, News 13 tracked down an official with Robeson County Schools.
“Each day we transport almost 15,000 children across the school district,” said Thomas Benson, an Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources with the district. Benson said it’s tough to hang on to reliable bus drivers.
“The situation at Purnell Swett was unique,” Benson explained. “)We hired one driver this afternoon to help us with the situation, and another driver was running a double route, so we’re just trying to fix that particular situation and I think now we’re okay.”
Benson said low wages and long hours don’t help the situation.
“With limited pay, you’re gonna continue to have issues,” he said.
Chandra Short said a driver shortage is still no excuse for her son and his friends to wait alone in the early mornings and miss class time..
“It’s not acceptable,” she exclaimed. “We just ask that the bus gets here on time to get our kids to school on time and drop them off so they’re safe.”
Benson said he hopes Robeson County’s efforts to recruit new drivers will help ease the burden on current drivers and keep student’s like Chandra Short’s safe.
“We’re doing the best we can to get out there and solicit and let people know we need you to drive our buses,” said Benson.
The school district is actively looking for several bus drivers to help deliver kids safely to and from school. The district is also planning to offer classes starting next week for those interested in becoming certified as a bus driver.
For more information, contact Robeson County Schools at (910)-671-6000.
