Waterford cancels school bus routes

The Waterford School District began canceling bus routes on Monday. Officials cited a shortage of drivers as the reason for the cuts. The changes affect transportation for students across the district.

Parents reported immediate disruptions to their work schedules. Sarah Dalton, a parent in the district, said she had to rearrange her work week. She now arrives at her office late and leaves early to manage school drop-offs and pickups.

Dalton explained that she cannot leave her child unattended because the drop-off location is uncertain. "I cannot depend on her bus and I cannot leave her unattended for who knows how long because we don’t know when and where the bus is going to drop her off," she said.

The district stated its goal is to keep the route cancellations temporary. A written statement noted that full service will resume as newly hired drivers finish required training. The district is also optimizing route designs for greater efficiency.

Dalton urged the district to take accountability for the changes. "I would like to see the district prioritizing their students, prioritizing their education, understanding that the options that they are offering are not okay," she said. She added that the district needs to make education accessible for everyone.