Sherri Lindemann's daughter is a freshman at South Fork High School. Lindemann said she was caught off guard when she learned what had upset her child. Lindemann said her daughter described a miserable experience on the ride.
She said the bus was extremely hot with no air or ventilation and that there was overcrowding with four kids to every seat, with everybody sweaty and upset. The bus ride took an hour and 15 minutes to get home.
The Martin County School District said it understands why the experience would be concerning for students and families, especially on the first day of school when routines are new and students are adjusting to the year ahead. The district's Transportation team confirmed that 57 students were on the bus on Monday, which falls within regulation for high school buses, and that no seat had 4 students in it. Staff also confirmed the bus's air conditioning system was operating properly, but the district acknowledged that mid-August heat can make any bus ride feel particularly warm.
Lindemann's concerns come after the school district consolidated 3 school bus routes to make transportation more efficient without impacting students. In a statement, the district said the delays had nothing to do with the consolidation. The district said Transportation staff are closely monitoring ridership and routes as drivers become more familiar with traffic patterns and students become accustomed to safely exiting the bus.
Families can track their child's bus through the MyReaxiumApp. Those who need help setting up an account can contact the transportation department at 772-219-1287.