Lee County, Fla. – Since school starts Tuesday, 20 bus drivers have quit their jobs with Lee County schools. the county was already shortened by 100 drivers during summer. Parents and the school district say the situation needs serious attention.
“There were some factors for our bus drivers, concerned about students not wearing masks for them personally. There’s a lot of stress on them, choosing extra routes and filling in extra time to make sure we’re getting everyone picked up,” said Robert Spyker. “And unfortunately, they often bear the brunt of parental frustration when doors open and it drives them away.”
Spyker is the communications coordinator for Lee County Schools. He says he has already hired enough people to make up for the ones he lost this week, but they are still seriously short. Due to which there is a lot of delay in reaching home on time or at all. A parent tells us that his child hasn’t been to school for three days because the bus never showed up.
“They didn’t come so I drove him to school. And they didn’t even come to pick him up back home from school and I had to drive in the middle of the storm, ”said Jennifer Sopka. “There were several parents there and the teacher who dropped her off with me told me that there was only one bus that came to pick up any students.”
Sopka says that her class VIII student is ready to go back to school, but she cannot pick her up in the evening as her car is not reliable in rainy conditions.
“I understand they lack staff, although someone needs to approach the parents if they’re not going to take the students and do something different,” she said.
While many other parents are concerned about buses arriving hours late, Spicer says there’s no need to panic if you contact the school and know your child has made it onto the bus.
“Those buses always have adults and sometimes more than one rider. Therefore, they are always being monitored. Not going to tell you it’s perfect, it’s not the most comforting thing to hear as a parent. But they are not alone,” Spiker said.
In the event of an emergency or if your child has not boarded the bus, the driver or school will contact you first.
Parents can directly track their child’s bus wherethebusappto see if there is any delay. Spyker says that if your child misses their stop, they should alert the bus driver immediately instead of getting off at the wrong spot.
At the primary level, students are taken to the appropriate bus by the school staff. If you send your child to school with a cell phone for emergency use, instruct them to keep the phone turned off and securely in their backpack during the school day.
If you are interested in becoming a bus driver in Lee County, www.leeschools.net . go to.
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