The situation currently going on with the buses at Steinbrenner Highschool is a problem that needs resolving quickly. Since the very first day of school, transportation has been lacking not only staff but enough seats for everyone.
It’s the first day of school, Sophomore Joseph Gonzalez is standing outside at his bus stop. The specified time the bus should’ve been there was 7:47 AM. He was standing outside until 8:14 AM. The traffic outside and leading up to the school is awful, and he doesn’t make it to class until 8:43 AM. It went on like this for weeks.
“It was frustrating because it took longer to get to school, and I had people that I wanted to hang out with in the morning that I usually wouldn’t get to see the rest of the day, and because of the bus I wouldn’t be able to have that opportunity,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez isn’t the only one. Many students have been late to school daily due to issues with their buses. Some bus routes have been extremely populated with students, with some people three to a seat, and some even having to sit in the aisles. Buses are being scheduled for more stops than they can handle, while other buses have plenty of empty seats, and some even arrive early to school.
While most students get to go home, few groups of kids are left behind each day because their bus had to run a double shift or cover for other bus drivers. There is a shortage of bus drivers, which not only affects students but the drivers that have to work more than they signed up for.
“I feel like some buses need to trade routes, or we just need more buses in total, that way the kids can have plenty of space and feel comfortable,” added Gonzalez.
The crowding of the buses doesn’t entirely help with covid protocols either. There’s an ongoing debate on if students should be socially distanced on the bus, but with the school’s limited options, there really isn’t a choice. While the bus routes have gotten better as the semester continues, students hope to see a more functional bus system.
Zoe Rivera // Staff Writer
