Parents with students attending Baltimore County Public Schools said they’re concerned about overcrowded buses. One parent sent ABC2 News pictures of children having to sit, stand and kneel in the bus aisles.
“There were three kids per seat, they were halfway hanging off, and so I basically told [my daughter], ‘Hey, wait a couple of days, let the school system work the kinks out, but it didn't,” said Jose Bulls, a Baltimore County parent.
He said that was the first day of school, and a week later, his daughter is still without a seat.
"My biggest fear is something as simple as a sudden stop will make those kids fall down on the floor and hurt each other, or worse, god willing nothing happens, but a car accident,” Bulls said.
Bulls contacted the Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Transportation but said he didn't get the response he was looking for.
“All they did was tell me that they spoke with the driver and the driver denied any kids sitting down or standing up in the bus aisle,” Bulls said.
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So, he reached out to his county council member and sent along pictures with his complaint. Councilman David Marks said Bulls wasn't the first parent to approach him about the problem.
“We've had probably several dozen say something over the past week or so. I've been in office six years, we've never had these type of complaints,” Marks said.
He added that he understands the transportation office has their hands full the first few days, but said it's time they come up with a resolution.
“Quite frankly, they've had all summer to work out these route issues and now we've had over an week to deal with some of these issues and I think we're getting very frustrated,” Marks said.
Mychael Dickerson, with the Baltimore County Public Schools communications office, said the school system is aware of the bus overcrowding issue on Perry Hall High School buses. He said starting Friday morning, assistant principals will ride the buses and have a checklist of names to make sure the right kids are on the right buses.
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