SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) – Dorchester College District Two mother and father say they have been stunned, annoyed and irritated once they realized the district will likely be pushing again class begin occasions as they cope with a scarcity of bus drivers.
Beginning on Monday, district center colleges will begin class at 8:30 a.m., whereas excessive colleges will begin class at 9:30 a.m.
Whereas begin occasions have modified, dismissal occasions haven’t, and elementary colleges are usually not affected by the adjustments. Nevertheless, Mathias Hickman, whose 5-year-old has been late a number of occasions to class this yr, mentioned the change gained’t assist issues.
“It gained’t have an effect on my daughter in any respect as a result of they’ll nonetheless have the identical variety of buses within the morning,” Hickman mentioned. “They’ll nonetheless have the identical time schedule to get them out to highschool on time.”
The district mentioned the brand new begin occasions are to fight ongoing bus delays as a result of a statewide bus driver scarcity. Presently, they’ve 12 bus driver vacancies of their transportation division.
Dad and mom mentioned the buses have been a problem because the college yr started.
“It’s horrible; they’re by no means on time,” highschool mum or dad Jacqui Stewart-Sash mentioned. “My daughter is late to highschool daily. I get cellphone calls saying she’s missed first interval, but it surely’s as a result of the bus was late, or she was tardy, or she will get caught within the sweep. It’s simply not been a terrific expertise, interval.”
Some mother and father mentioned they’ve had buses come round 40 minutes later than their scheduled pickup occasions in latest weeks, leaving them and their family members scrambling to ensure their youngsters get to highschool.
“We now have to ensure she will get on the bus, issues of that nature,” Stewart-Sash mentioned, “so it’s actually complicated, and it simply messes up every part, and I’m certain I’m not the one mum or dad or household who feels this fashion.”
The district despatched the next assertion on its efforts to deal with the scarcity:
Whereas now we have elevated bus driver pay, elevated recruitment efforts, and adjusted bus route begin occasions, we have to change college begin occasions for center college and highschool to forestall continued lack of educational time initially of the varsity day. Our primary precedence continues to be safely transporting college students to highschool and getting them dwelling at an affordable time.
Whereas mother and father put together to regulate to the brand new begin occasions, they need the district to shortly put the bus driver scarcity within the rear-view mirror.
“I simply hope they get it collectively and that they discover some good, accountable bus drivers and do what it takes to maintain them, not simply get them, however hold them, and provides them the respect and the cash that they deserve,” Stewart-Sash mentioned.
Some mother and father mentioned they’re hopeful the change is barely non permanent and faculty begin occasions can return to regular quickly.
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