Bus problems mar start to school year

Delays could take days to iron out

The school year hasn’t started smoothly for all students in the La Crosse school district.   As superintendent Randy Nelson has said in a messsage to parents, “by virtually all standards” the district has had an incredible start to the year.  There is that little problem with buses, however. 

The district’s busing contractor, First Student, has gone to a new system for creating bus routes.  Which apparently has led to numerous problems and delays.  Including some kids not getting picked up at all and others not getting home until very late in the afternoon.  Not good, according to Nelson, who says he’s communicated with top level management at the company to express his frustrations.  First Student has apparently acknowledged the problems and has sent some extra people to La Crosse to try and work out the kinks in the system.  

Nelson says the problems may take more than a week to work out and urges parents to have a “plan B” for transportation in the meantime. 

First Student becaome the bus contractor for La Crosse schools in 2008.  The current contract is worth more than $2 million for the year.