DEVELOPING: School Bus Crisis In Cranston

DEVELOPING: School Bus Crisis In Cranston

GoLocalProv has learned that a severe shortage of bus drivers in Cranston is wreaking havoc on the way children are riding to and from school.

In a letter just sent to parents obtained by GoLocalProv, Cranston school superintendent Peter Nero tells parents about what he calls a "concern" about the school bus system.

"To Make Matters Worse"

Nero, in his letter, says the city has an "unusually" high number of drivers that are out on long term medical leave. He does list what kind of medical leave is forcing so many drivers to be out or how long these drivers have been or will be out for. "We have an usually high number of drivers out on medical leave, 13 of our 80 drivers, not including everyday absences. "To make matters worse there are few substitute drivers available to transport our students".

This means kids pick up and drop-off times have been affected and it's certainly causing anxiety among children and parents.

Some bus runs are being doubled as a short term fix but it's not solving the problem.

Strangers Driving Buses

Nero goes on to say to try and avoid problems and to ensure kids are picked up and returned home at a decent hour, the city is now looking at hiring an outside contractor to fill the void. No word on how long that will take.

This means children who are used to their own special bus driver in many cases, will now see a stranger at the wheel. It doesn't stop there. These replacement drivers won't be in buses that have "Cranston Public Schools" painted on the side. The letter to parents does not say what the plan is to make sure children know which "new" bus to get on and not be on a wrong bus.

Criminal Checks

The Superintendent ends the letter by saying all these replacement drivers will have to meet the same requirements of current drivers which will include a background criminal investigation check otherwise known as a BCI.