After parents demanded safer bus driving for their kids and an Action News Jax investigation, there were changes at Ed White High School and River City Science Academy.
Tuesday, Sky Action News Jax, the only news helicopter in Jacksonville, caught a bus in the middle of Beach Boulevard traffic, with River City Science Academy students onboard, blocking traffic as the other buses went by.
The school's executive director, Dr. Dogan Tozoglu, said he didn’t know buses were doing it until he saw our story. The school sent the bus company and email asking drivers to stop.
Thursday, Sky Action News Jax checked to see if the practice stopped at River City Science Academy and it did. Buses left campus with no problem and without a bus blocking traffic.
Wednesday, Sky Action News Jax also caught buses at Ed White High blocking traffic. After we sent the school district the video, a resource officer helped route traffic on Thursday.
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A bus driver, who asked not to be identified, said the deadlines are tight and the arrival and pick up times are unrealistic.
"it takes 5-10 minutes for the bus to even get loaded, then you have to make sure the kids are there safely in their seats, then you have to pull out. If you have 10-20 buses lined up trying to pull out at one time, nobody can leave the lot at the exact same time,” said the bus driver.
She showed Action News Jax a route sheet that said she had five minutes to get from one school to another around the corner. But the clock started when the school let out and didn’t account for students loading and traffic.
Duval County Public Schools said the schools “problem solve” with school police regarding assistance with traffic management.
School officers do not work charter schools as they are separate entities from the district.
DCPS urges you to contact the transportation department to report bus safety issues at 904-858-6200.
Cox Media Group
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