JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Could problems for Duval County Public School buses soon come to an end?
On Tuesday school board leaders decide whether to drop one school bus contractor in multiple neighborhoods and give those routes to a different company. Durham School Services could take over routes currently run by Student Transportation of America.
The recommendation that the school board is considering states this would impact bus routes for any schools in the boundary areas for Fletcher, Sandalwood or Terry Parker High Schools.
STA is facing "significant driver shortfalls" and many parents are complaining, the recommendation states. First Coast News has heard this from parents as well and not just those in the school boundary areas listed in the recommendation. More than 60 bus routes were listed on DCPS’s late bus web page by 8:45 a.m. Monday. That's also before middle school starts.
Elmer Merced’s grandson is in middle school and rides the bus every day on the west side. Merced says he's usually late because his bus is late.
"The school is really proactive with accountability and attendance and discipline and so anytime something weird happens I get a message, 'Your child has an unexcused absence in period number one,'" he said.
Merced says he sees this problem with other children at his grandson’s school.
“I saw several groups of people still waiting for the bus at 9:30,” he said. “So what time do they get there? 10:00? Do they miss a whole period? Do they have to make up work? It affects the education, to some point."
First Coast News asked DCPS how many bus routes could be taken over by Durham and how many school bus driver vacancies there are now in the district. Durham would need more school buses, according to the recommendation, and First Coast News also asked who might pay for those.
A spokesperson with the district said Monday they would not be able to answer the questions before the Tuesday morning deadline, but will respond later Tuesday. This story will be updated with their answers.
First Coast News also reached out to STA to ask about the situation, but the company did not respond.
The school board meeting is at 6:00 p.m. at the DCPS administrative building.