Tardy buses are creating frustration among some parents and students in Osceola County.
- Parents in Poinciana say school buses late, sometimes never come
- Osceola County School District says it needs more than 40 new drivers
Ivette Rodriguez wakes up early every morning to make breakfast for her children. Getting her kids to school on time is a priority, Something that hasn't been happening lately.
“It makes me angry,” Rodriguez said.
Parents said that recently School Bus 526, which picks up students from Poinciana High School, has been showing up to the bus stop late, if at all.
“It’s really hard for me because I work for Loop Pediatrics from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but I have to leave early. I live an hour away from work,” Rodriguez explained. “But before that I have to take my other daughter to school. So it’s really hard for me. I wish I can be here to wait if the bus come or not, but what about I leave and I don’t know if he went to school or not?”
The school bus stop is on Dover Drive and Dunbarton Court in Poinciana where parents said their children have waited up to an hour to get picked up.
“At 6:15 the bus is supposed to be in the corner. And most of the time it comes at 6:20 a.m., 6:30 a.m., or they don’t show up at all,” noted Norys Erickson, another parent.
The Osceola County School District said it's happening because there's a shortage of drivers. They still need to hire more than 40. So when drivers call out sick now during flu season, the other drivers get further behind.
But moms like Rodriguez say they don’t want their kids missing any classroom time.
“I hope with this the Osceola County School Transportation can do something about it. Because it worries me a lot,” Rodriguez said.
If you are interested in applying to be a school bus driver, head to the Osceola County School website.