Delays and confusion marred the take-over of school transportation services in Lincoln County, Oregon. The Newport News-Times reported that school principals from Sam Case and Yaquina View Elementary Schools took to Facebook to apologise, and staff worked late into the evening to try and sort out the problems.
“This is our first year with a newly contracted provider of bus services for the Lincoln County School District in nine years,” explained School Superintendant Karen Gray. “What we experienced is more extreme than the usual issues that come with the start of each school year in the fall because we have the combination of a new provider, First Student Inc, new drivers, new people entering the route data, plus confusion from staff and students as to which transportation selection is correct for each student.”
Commenting on the disruption, First Student spokesperson Jay Brock told the News-Times: “The beginning of the school year brings new patterns for parents, teachers, students and communities. Safe school bus transportation is our number one priority. We will continue to partner with the Lincoln County School District to refine schedules.”
First Student is in the process of hiring more bus drivers although it is reported that positions were offered to bus drivers who were already driving for the district at the time of the change in companies.
