JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville mother is expressing deep frustration over repeated ESE school bus delays; she says this has disrupted her third-grade son’s education.
Angela Shenberger says unpredictable school bus service has left her scrambling daily to manage transportation to Holiday Hill Elementary. For Shenberger, what should be a routine morning bus stop has turned into a guessing game, forcing her to remain on standby every single day.
“I would have been going, ‘Where’s my son?’” Shenberger said, recounting her anxiety over the situation. “I would’ve had no clue, and I would be freaking out wondering where my child was. That’s not good.”
The disruptions are particularly challenging for her son, who is autistic and relies heavily on structured schedules.
“It’s so hard with him,” Shenberger explained. “With him being autistic, he thrives on that routine that he needs.”
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According to Shenberger, the first week of the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) bus route ran smoothly. The family even had the same driver as the previous school year. However, that driver employed by Durham School Services suddenly resigned.
Since the driver’s departure, service has disintegrated.
“We don’t have a bus driver; we’re waiting on backup drivers,” Shenberger said. “And the kids are getting to school late.”
Shenberger noted that children are left waiting for a long time for the bus to arrive, both in the mornings and during afternoon dismissal. Furthermore, she claims she only receives notification about whether a backup driver is available a few hours before pickup, usually via updates from a bus aide or the school.
The lack of reliability has forced Shenberger to alter her own daily schedule to personally drive her son, ensuring he does not miss critical instructional time.
Moving forward, Shenberger wanting better communication for parents, higher pay to retain qualified staff, and the immediate assignment of a permanent driver to restore the stability her son needs.
Durham Statement:
With the new school year, we are working through challenges that are common during start-up, and as of this morning, a driver has been assigned to the route and will continue to perform the same route until further notice.
All drivers received a pay increase at the beginning of August, and we continue to actively grow our team. For part-time driver positions, we offer competitive pay starting at $23.00 per hour, along with a bonus opportunity for qualified applicants.
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our student riders and their families. As the school year gets underway, we will continue refining our service to help ensure we provide safe, reliable transportation throughout the year.
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