PSS down to nine buses

The Public School System was down to operating with nine buses this week, forcing drivers to make three or four trips in order to accommodate students in all villages.

The PSS Pupil Transportation Division started the week with 12 buses, but three went down mid-week, PSS bus team leader Steven M. Pangelinan said yesterday.

“This is hell week for us,” he said.

Last year PSS started the year with 15 buses.

The Transportation Division is trying to find the necessary parts to make repairs on the three buses, Pangelinan said. One bus had power steering problems, while crewmembers were unable to work on the other two because they are still under factory warranties and must be fixed by Hawthorne Pacific. PSS is also hoping two buses that are currently off island will return soon.

With only nine buses, bus drivers have had to make repeated trips to pick up all the students. Some students are 30 minutes to an hour late to school, and drivers are on their routes until 5pm or later delivering the kids to their homes at the end of the day, Pangelinan said.

He said he has been receiving calls from parents about the delays and safety of students waiting outside for long periods of time.

“A lot of concerns are coming from parents, asking ‘Where are they? Why are they late?’” Pangelinan said.

The schools are notified about late buses, and the administrators understand the problems they are facing, he added.

Adding to the problem, Pangelinan said, is the increase in the number of students riding the buses this year.

Although they do not have the numbers for the first week yet, Pangelinan said he estimates a 20- to 30-percent increase over last year’s numbers. Approximately 2,500 students were picked up each day last year.

The Transportation Division has not been using the schedule they originally distributed to the public because of the lack of buses, Pangelinan said.

“Right now it’s like all hell is breaking lose, and no one knows which bus to use,” he said. “The schedule we set, we’re going against [it],” he said. “There’s just a lot of confusion.”

A new schedule should be ready this week with the necessary changes, he added.

Pangelinan said the district is still scheduled to receive five new buses on or before Nov. 30.