BAPS Fixes Transportation Issues After Several Complaints

The Broken Arrow school district has fixed a problem that upset the family of a little girl who had to walk to school in a wooded area because she didn’t live on a bus route.

The grandmother we spoke to wasn't the only one with transportation concerns in Broken Arrow. In fact, we were contacted by several families; but now, just a few weeks into school, the district is listening.

Back in August, Mary Munoz was pretty upset about her granddaughter's trek to school.

8/24/2016 Related Story: Lack Of School Bus Routes Leaves BA Families Worried, Upset

“When you walk it, it is 40 minutes, so it is not close by any stretch of the imagination," she said. “We want something done before something happens."

Three weeks later, the school has done something.

Monday, Munoz's granddaughter rode the bus, for the first time, on her newly assigned bus route; it drops her off and picks her up right in front of her apartment complex.

Chief communications officer, Shelli Holland, said, “We made some changes to our transportation over the summer, and those did cause some challenges. We listened to our parents and we set up a call center; we've tried very hard to get back in touch with every single person who has contacted us with a concern.”

In fact, despite the budget cuts to transportation, the school district has added eight new bus routes and 20 new bus stops in response to concerns.

“Our students’ safety is the number one thing we should be focused on, so we're going to make those adjustments in the budget as needed and we'll make due,” Holland said.

It’s a decision Munoz said she's pleased with, especially now that her granddaughter has a safe and reliable way to school.

The district said it is hiring bus drivers to help with the new routes and that the transportation call center will stay open all year to hear concerns.