We've told you how some kids in the Plymouth-Canton School District felt their buses are so overcrowded, it put them at risk. It is a story that is getting attention.
State Representative Kristy Pagan saw the video of kids crammed in a bus, heard a student say he was forced to sit on the floor, and knows the safety concerns of parents. She says she will look into whether legislation is needed to regulate how many kids are on buses.
Right now the state only requires districts follow bus manufacturer guidelines for capacity, which is three kids/39 inch seat.
Plymouth-Canton School Board Trustee Mike Maloney says he asked for the same problem to be addressed at the beginning of the school year last year.
"Our kids deserve better. I think that the real issue is we have a school board that refuses to demand a plan and corrective actions," said Maloney.
He says since the bus service was outsourced to Durham School Services, work processes for managing its work have not been implemented to his satisfaction.
School leaders and Durham are responding.
District Director of Communications Nick Brandon says today, tomorrow, and Friday bus drivers will count students on their buses, produce reports, and if necessary those reports will lead to changes to prevent overcrowding.
