KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Cass County in Missouri. He also covers agricultural topics. Share your story idea with Ryan.
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Parents in the Raymore-Peculiar School District have raised concerns about transportation issues across the district.
Jonathan Eckers, parent of a Creekmoor Elementary School student, told KSHB 41 Cass County reporter Ryan Gamboa that a school bus driver dropped his 5-year-old daughter off at the wrong bus stop in 105-degree heat. She navigated her own way home.
In a phone call with Gamboa, Eckers claimed he was at work when a neighbor noticed his daughter was sitting near his backyard fence. She told the neighbor that she scaled the backyard fence because she felt it was safer than sitting out front.
"It breaks me," Eckers told Gamboa on the phone. "I've lost 11 pounds in seven days. The stress this has caused is insane."
Eckers is asking the district to address his concerns and ignite change by taking to social media, where other parents have expressed similar concerns.
The Raymore-Peculiar School District told Gamboa in a statement that the district has expectations for transportation services.
"We have high expectations for the transportation services First Student provides to our families," a spokesperson told KSHB 41. "Families deserve to trust that their children will be transported safely and reliably. We sincerely apologize for the concern and frustration families experience when those expectations are not met. We are working closely with First Student to address recent concerns and ensure a high standard of service."
Eckers claims it's unclear how far his daughter had to walk from the incorrect bus stop.
"The school bus company has not even told me where my daughter was dropped off," he said. "So, I don't know. That's the crazy part."
A district spokesperson told Gamboa the school board will begin discussing this issue at the board work session Thursday evening.
According to board documents, transportation is listed as a discussion item, but there are no documents attached to the agenda item.
The district spokesperson said the meeting is open to the public, but there is no open forum; it is a board work session, not a regularly scheduled board meeting.
The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the board chambers.
KSHB 41 reached out to First Student for comment and a spokesperson issued this statement:
First Student takes student safety very seriously and is reviewing the concern raised about a kindergarten student’s Friday afternoon drop-off. Multiple students exited at the assigned stop, and an adult was present at the stop. We understand that adult was known to the children and contacted the parent.
We also understand the district’s expectation that kindergarten students have a parent or older sibling present at the bus stop. We are working with the district to review this matter and reinforce procedures with drivers so expectations are clear and consistently followed.
We understand parents’ concerns and are treating this matter seriously. We will continue working with the district.
Gamboa intends to follow up on this story. If you are a parent with a concern about this topic, email Ryan.Gamboa@kshb.com to get in touch and participate in this story.
"I want the bus company to fire the individual that did this," Eckers said. "I need the district to figure out a better system because this happens every year."
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