SLPS apologizes to families after first day of school with unique transportation plan

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) leaders said Monday they are working to resolve issues they experienced on the first day of school, as the district scrambled to get kids to and from class.

This comes after Missouri Central canceled its contract last spring, and SLPS responded with a transportation plan involving multiple vendors.

“At the end of the day, the bus thing is not working,” said Kenita Remiee.

Remiee said after her children’s transportation plan continued to change — and with the bus stop too far from her home — she decided to drop off her children herself Monday.

“It really cuts into our schedule,” said Remiee.

SLPS began its unique transportation plan Monday, involving more than a dozen companies using buses, vans, and even regular vehicles to transport students to school.

“It’s one big mess. It’s giving me a headache. They need to figure it out ASAP,” said Deanna Allen.

Allen told First Alert 4 that after receiving mixed messages from two different transportation companies, she called SLPS — who told her there was no ride home for her two kids. So she had to do it herself.

“I’m not going to be able to use my lunch break every day to pick them up. It’s something I have to figure out,” said Allen.

District leaders addressed the media Monday afternoon.

“That same thing may happen tomorrow,” said Dr. Millicent Borishade, acting SLPS Superintendent.

Dr. Borishade prepped parents to be ready for a similar situation Tuesday. The district apologized to parents for any inconvenience. She said SLPS had a 72% attendance rate Monday, similar to last year’s first day of school.

“Seventy-two is a good start for us, and we’re going to build on that,” said Borishade.

First Alert 4 also received an email saying transportation vendors “are not yet numbered, but drivers should know their numbers and students.”

We asked Borishade about it, and she said she immediately worked to get that resolved.

“I told the schools that they should provide the numbers,” said Borishade.

She also said that if parents are unable to pick up kids due to transportation issues, after-school care has been opened up to all students for the time being.

Parents like Remiee are desperate for SLPS to get this right.

“We really need to figure it out for these kids,” said Remiee.

Borishade said if kids are late due to transportation issues, there is a grace period.

“That is no fault of theirs,” said Borishade.

The district did not have any metrics on how things went Monday but said they will share those numbers soon and hold vendors able.

Tracy Fantini, with SLPS Parent Action Council, said testimony from other parents ran the full gamut Monday: some had trouble, while others had an easy experience with their kids’ transportation.

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