Here is a follow up from yesterday’s story about how HEnderson County Schools will not have bus routes for some students.
Henderson County School systems Superintendent Dr. Bob Lawson reiterated that the bus driver shortage is the main reason for the change in bus routes for some HCHS students.
“Due to the is bus driver shortage right now we can’t transport any student that lives within one mile of our elementary schools at any of our schools,” said Dr. Lawson. “The people of the South Heights community want us to transport their students to school and that’s what we want to do to.”
South Heights Elementary School parents who live around 1 mile from the school got notified about the change in bus routes via a notice form on Monday July 31st stating that they now live in a “walking area.”
Henderson County Schools system officials say that the Walking Area is from Sand Lane to Washington Street and Alvasia to Atkinson Street.
Parents took to social media to share their thoughts.
“There’s no sidewalks in any of the county in Henderson County, we don’t have sidewalks or anything like that and it’s dangerous from them to be walking,” said Henderson Parent, Amber Veach.
Henderson County parent of five, Taecara Rollins, says she and her childern live less than mile from the new “student walking area.” Here family will not be impacted by the bus route reduction, but she says the circumstances are sad.
“Things aren’t like they use to be when I was a kid growing up ya know I remember walking from North Middle School downtown to the Tri-Fest and it was no problem. I don’t feel like the kids can do that here now a days ya know,” said Rollins.
The Henderson Police Department are aware of these changes to Bus Routes. Released the following statement.
“With every school year we always increase our patrol in the area of school bus pick up zones and this year won’t be any different. We’ll continue to patrol areas where children will be walking to school and bus pickups. And we’ll focus on areas without sidewalks or whenever we receive complaints about dangers from speeding or reckless driving.” said Lt. Onan of the Henderson Police Department.
Henderson County School system is actively hiring bus drivers. Dr. Lawson says he looks forward to working alongside the community to find a solution to this pressing issue.
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