Wake schools add six more buses to schedule

Cary, N.C. — In its latest response to public outcry over busing complaints, the Wake County Public School System said Thursday that it will add six more buses to transportation routes Friday.

"The new additions reflect our ongoing commitment to make the situation right for our families as quickly as possible," Superintendent Tony Tata said in a statement. "We will continue taking all steps necessary to fix the problems."

The new buses will take effect Friday afternoon for routes at Apex Elementary, Apex Middle, Baucom Elementary, Laurel Park Elementary, Turner Creek Elementary and Salem Elementary schools.

Since traditional-calendar schools started last week, the district has put 27 additional buses in service after complaints of delays and other busing problems.

Earlier this year, the school system cut a dozen buses from the transportation schedule in an effort to save money.

A Wake County schools spokesman said the district's transportation department is monitoring routes and will continue making adjustments to routes, stops and schedules as necessary.

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Just to be clear. I live in Apex and have 4 children in school. 3 are in elementary school. The school releases at 3:45. My children have not returned home before 5:30 (leaving the school at 5:00) for the past week. One day my husband picked them up at school at 5:40. No bus. Some days they have not been picked up by any bus in the am either. The days that a bus came it was far too late to arrive at school by the bell start. We are not getting buses because "we have money", rather because WCPSS has a duty to transport my kids, as well as all children to school safely and timely. As for who is to blame; WCPSS needs to invest in a program that will lay out routes, times, stop time etc. There are far too many students involved to be cheaping it at this point.

happyx5
September 7, 2012 3:49 p.m.

Chris Malone has bigger intentions than working on the school board for his constituents .He was a Wake Forest commissioner before he was voted out,and now has been voted into the state leg. as a senator, so your kids and the extra buses that are needed in the Wake Forest area ASAP are not going to happen,because he is just another Republican that can only muster lip service.

As if ....
September 7, 2012 11:21 a.m.

Everyone seems to want to blame Tata or the Board when the real blame lies within the Transportation Department itself. They've been "selling" this brilliant plan of reducing so many buses for months now. Why wouldn't Tata and the Board believe what has been presented to them in such a We-know-What-We're-Doing fashion! They made it sound so good! Heads should roll, alright... starting with the regional managers and the directors of Transportation!

WhatIsTheDrama
September 7, 2012 11:19 a.m.

Whiner line is busy...Call back later

americaneel
September 7, 2012 11:09 a.m.

Here's a thought.... Maybe the school board members should take a paycut to offset the cost of the extra school buses needed to correct this problem... Oh wait... What was I thinking!!!!!

torchhappysean
September 7, 2012 10:42 a.m.