Video shows Duval County students sitting on floor of school bus

Parents are furious after a video surfaced of their kids’ ride home from school.

A Baldwin Middle-Senior High School student’s cellphone video clearly shows students sitting on the floor of a school bus and piled into seats.

“Our kids are saying, ‘Yeah, we’re having to sit in the aisles. We’re having to sit in people’s laps. We have people sitting on our laps,’” said Ed Jones, who has five kids on the bus.

The Birnie Bus Service bus was on its way to the Winchester Ridge subdivision in Jacksonville’s Baldwin neighborhood.

“We called the school. Multiple parents called the school,” said Tony van Dongen, whose daughter shot the video.

“[I’ve complained] at least 10 times,” said Jones. “If that bus driver had to stop real fast, all those kids in the aisle and everything, they would just go flying right up through the windshield or whatever.”

Duval County Public Schools’ spokespeople said only one complaint has come in from a parent in the neighborhood about bus overcrowding.

The district said the bus was being used as an overflow bus on Friday, but was never above its capacity of 65 students; it was at 64.

They were unable to explain why students were sitting on the floor.

“Do we in our taxes pay enough money – and I know we do – to get these kids to school safely?” said van Dongen.”

“I would like it to stop, but for now, we’ve taken the kids off the bus,” said Jones.

The school district sent Action News Jax a statement, which reads in full:

Upon becoming aware of concerns for Bus #51 being overcrowded, Duval County Public Schools immediately began reviewing the situation with the contractor Birnie Bus and Baldwin Middle-High School leadership. After evaluation, it was determined the bus route did not exceed the 65 student capacity at any time. Bus #51 normally transports 35 students each afternoon, but has served as an overflow bus to transport students to the same area on a few occasions this school year as a result of other bus delays. Unfortunately, DCPS has experienced challenges with Birnie Bus and will continue to monitor the bus contractor's adherence to maintaining scheduled routes, capacity management, and safe driving practices. We are encouraged that a new partner next year will help to alleviate parent and community concerns. We invite community members to contact the DCPS Transportation Department at (904) 858-6200 or the bus contractors directly to immediately address issues and work together to maintain safety for students and drivers on our roads."

Cox Media Group