CMS Bus Delays Leave Students Waiting Up to Two Hours at Stops

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students have waited up to two hours at bus stops. Delays started when the school year began. Some days, buses never came. Parents had to drive kids to school.

Jasmine Pinn said the bus serving her son's stop near Mallard Creek Road has been unreliable since classes started. Her son goes to Ridge Road Middle School. Last week, Pinn drove four children she didn't know to school after no bus showed up.

"You can't leave them on a bus stop for two hours. It's unacceptable," Pinn said, according to WCNC Charlotte.

The delays have led to tardy notices. Her son got written up for being late. Pinn described the situation as "not an isolated incident" but rather "a systematic failure affecting working families across Mecklenburg County."

WCNC Charlotte has reported on major problems within the district since last year. During earlier incidents, some parents said their children were dropped at wrong stops.

Safety worries have added to parent frustration. A shooting happened near the stop several weeks ago. That raised fears about children waiting extended periods in the area.

"Now you got the kids waiting for the bus for two hours, what if a shootout happens then," Pinn said.

After Pinn sent a letter expressing her concerns, she said the bus arrived on time late last week. Officials told her the problems would be fixed.

"I had tears in my eye when I was writing this email, because I was so frustrated, I was over it," Pinn said.

In October, the transportation department put out a statement. It said drivers who are uncertain about a student's stop are told to contact the department. The school system has not provided updated information on efforts to address the ongoing delays or how many families are affected.