Parent fears school bus delays risk child safety

An Edmonton father says he is concerned about the safety of his son and other students at a south-side school after ongoing transportation issues have caused students to wait outside for their school bus for more than an hour several times this week.

Richard Flohr said his 11-year-old son typically catches his school bus at 7:20 a.m., a half-block from the family’s apartment in Blue Quill, and rides to Parkallen School at 6703 112 St.

The bus transports students in the Opportunity program, which supports students with academic delays, to Parkallen and Overlanders schools.

On Monday, Flohr said his son returned home at 7:50 a.m. after no Stock Transportation bus showed up. After calling the school and bus company, the family was told to return outside at 8:50 a.m.

“I called the bus company and said, ‘What’s going on? You should have called us and let us know what was happening,’ ” Flohr said.

On Tuesday, Flohr said his son waited outside from 7:20 a.m. to 9 a.m. The bus also arrived late on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Flohr said.

“This is unsafe for children,” Flohr said, adding that the students are arriving late to school and missing out on class time.

Flohr is also the father of seven-week-old twin boys and said the transportation issues have been an added stress on the family. He’s made repeated calls to the bus company, but heard little response.

“I want something done. I want these people to see this is a serious matter,” he said.

Jane Sterling, spokeswoman for Edmonton PublicSchools, acknowledges there has been challenges with the particular bus route.

“That’s way too long for a student to have to wait, and we acknowledge that. We’re working with our service provider to get that improved,” she said.

Sterling said growing enrolment in the school division has put pressure on the busing system, while transportation companies are struggling to hire and retain drivers.

Still, she said the board has told the bus company the situation is “not acceptable.”

“They understand that, and we’ve been told we’ll see improved busing on Monday,” she said.

The Journal was unable to reach anyone at Stock Transportation for comment at this time.