ATLANTA — There are currently 355 bus drivers working for Atlanta Public Schools. That’s a shortage of 44 drivers, and that shortfall is leaving kids attending one middle school, waiting for hours.
Parents, like Sara Vital, said that when the bus is late- in the morning- students are missing crucial time in the classroom. When it’s late in the afternoon - they’re getting home in the dark.
“We’re worried, frustrated, angry,” said Vital.
Vital’s son rides Bus 562 from Cheshire Bridge Road to Sutton Middle School in Buckhead. She said the bus is consistently late.
"Around here you can see a lot of homeless people, dangerous people like going through the bridge," said Vital.
Classes at Sutton start at 8:45 a.m. but some mornings, Vital said the bus doesn't even pick them up until 10 a.m.
"On the page they have absence, absence, absence, they put absence to the kids," said Vital.
In the afternoon while they get out of school at 4:15 p.m. they don't make it home until hours later.
“At 6 p.m., sometimes 7 p.m., they get here hungry, tired, sweating," said Vital.
APS officials said they are aware of Bus 562 running late and point to a bus driver shortage and heavy traffic.
The district shared in a statement that “these students are informed about any instruction they may have missed and allowed ample time to make up any assignments quizzes or tests," and they’re “offered tutoring before and after school and invited to attend the schools Saturday Success Academy."
APS also shared that they shouldn’t be marked as absent or tardy when the bus makes them late. Vital said she would follow up to have her son's absences removed.
APS says they are also trying to hire more bus drivers. Vital says that needs to happen soon so their children can spend more time learning and waiting less.
"It’s sad for them to spend a lot of time doing nothing just waiting; it’s not good,"' said Vital.
APS said this is a unique situation, and they are not seeing these significant delays district-wide. The school district also shared that right now there are 25 drivers in the application process.