Parents have less than two weeks to come up with alternative plans after Traverse City Area Public Schools announced a lack of bus drivers is forcing them to limit transportation services for high school students.
In a letter to parents, the district said they can only bus helped the students on Mondays and Tuesdays. The other half will be bused on Wednesdays and Thursdays. They will alternate services every other Friday. The district is hoping parents and students can pick up the slack and find or provide rides for the days without busing.
Christina Friday is the parent of a high schooler. She says they rely on busing for the mornings when she has to work late the night before.
“Making sure I’m up in time to get her ready for school and drive her now is another added thing to my day,” said Friday.
Still, Friday said she’s not surprised by the recent announcement. “Everyone was saying last year that 2023 was going to be the year. You’re going to start seeing the effects of what’s really going to start happening. And I think that’s what’s going on,” said Friday.
Ivy Coe, a high school junior, said she won’t be impacted because she has a car, but she feels bad for those that don’t.
“I understand that there’s transportation issues. It’s just, I feel like it’s really hard to find an alternative where everybody’s going to be happy and provided for,” said Coe.
Even though it isn’t mandatory for district to provide transportation to students, Coe said that doesn’t make sense.
“I feel like if the law forces children to go to school, there has to be a way for them to access it if they’re going to be required to do that. You know, otherwise it’s like, okay, how?”
Regardless, students like junior Zach Wheeler said they will try to help out others if they can. “Yeah, if you need a ride, let me know,” said Wheeler.
The transportation changes goes into effect Jan 23.
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