JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
One Jackson parent fears her children won't get home safely when substitute bus drivers are at the wheel. After her 11-year-old son was released at the wrong stop, and subsequently got lost, she is asking for the school district's help.
Angeline Walton worries daily that her three children will not get off the school bus near their home on Tanner Hill Road, but rather one half a mile away at the intersection of McCluer and Rainey roads.
Walton says since the 2011 school year until last week, her children have been dropped at the wrong bus stop on several different occasions. To combat the problem, Walton has told her kids not to get off at the busy intersection where they are frequently released.
The problem, Walton said, lies with substitute bus drivers who miss their street, which is one block down from Rainey Road, off McCluer Road. The bus is supposed to bring her children to the house next door to her home.
In October she said her 11-year-old son Deshun got lost when the substitute made them get off the bus at the intersection.
"My husband had to drive all around Jackson to try to find my son, which we did not find him until 5:30. Putting your trust in these people to transport your kids to and from school everyday depending on them, but then they let you down," Walton said.
Walton's 12-year-old daughter Angel wouldn't get off and was taken back to Siwell Middle School.
"She passed our stop. We told her to turn around. She wouldn't turn around. So she put us off the bus," Deshun Walton said.
"They end up missing our stop and going all the way down to the other end and then we have to get off and walk all the way home," Angel Walton said.
Jackson Public Schools officials said bus drivers are assigned various routes based on the home address and school of the students. The administrative assistant has written and met with transportation officials. JPS released the statement below when asked about preventing the problem in the future:
"The district regularly reviews and makes efforts to improve the efficiency of its routes due to a shortage of drivers. The Transportation Department will review this case and make the appropriate adjustments if deemed necessary."
Walton hopes the situation will be resolved and not carry over into the next semester.
All parents who have transportation concerns are asked to please call the JPS Department of Transportation at 601-960-8919.
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Walton says since the 2011 school year until last week, her children have been dropped at the wrong bus stop on several different occasions.
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