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‘Parents of suspended students indifferent to school bus execs’
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Posted on Nov 09 2005
The parents of 15 high school students who have been suspended late October for violating school bus regulations and barred from riding the bus have yet to meet with bus officials.
Public School System Pupil Transportation Office bus team leader Steve Pangelinan said most of the parents have remained unresponsive to the suspension of their children from riding the school buses. He said only two parents of two high school students have confronted them about the details of the violations committed by their children.
“Parents are not concerned with what’s going on,” Pangelinan said.
He said the students suspended were transported to and from their respective schools to their homes in Chalan Kiya, Chalan Lau Lau, China Town, and Gualo Rai.
He said 11 students were caught chewing betel nut inside the school bus, while three others were caught committing the same infractions as well as ripping up the cushions of the bus seats. One student was even caught vandalizing the seat covers, said Pangelinan. One student was suspended from school for two to three days.
The identities of the students could not be disclosed in accordance with the Family Education Rights Privacy Act.
The cost for repairing the upholstery of the damaged seat would amount to at least $250 to $300 per seat.
Bus supervisor Ramon Salas told Saipan Tribune that he and his staff are just doing their jobs by implementing bus policies. He showed papers signed by parents attesting that they do understand the strict implementation of the bus rules. The agreement was signed both by the parents and the children.
The bus rider policy and rules agreement also said that in the event that their children violated a rule, the child will not be allowed to ride the bus until the parents have met with the school principal and the bus driver. The child will also be asked to write an apology letter to the bus driver.
This school year, the PSS has implemented seating arrangements for the bus riders. “This way it is easier to identify who could possibly damage bus seats,” said Salas.
PSS acting Commissioner of Education David M. Borja earlier said the bus supervisor was only doing his job to safeguard school property and to prevent costly repairs.
