UPDATE: Parents at Bates Middle School in Annapolis are growing increasingly frustrated as bus delays continue to disrupt students’ education. Since the school year began, students on the Apex Arts magnet program bus have faced chronic lateness, arriving at school nearly every day in a troubling pattern.
Residents report that the bus is consistently about five minutes late, a situation the local school district is aware of yet has not effectively resolved. Parent Jessica Hunt has been vocal about her concerns, regularly contacting the superintendent and board members, but her efforts have yielded little change. “Our large frustration comes from the fact that this has been an ongoing, systematic issue,” said Hunt. “Middle school is hard enough for kids. They don’t need the anxiety on top of that — whether they are going to get to school.”
The district acknowledges that a mix of required stop locations, rural roads, and traffic congestion has contributed to the delays. District spokesperson Bob Mosier stated, “We are trying different solutions and are optimistic that it will improve.” An adjustment to the bus route is expected this week, but parents remain skeptical given the ongoing issues.
Being late, even by just a few minutes, has significant repercussions for students. Hunt emphasized the negative impacts of disrupting lessons and the discomfort for middle schoolers who walk into classrooms late, facing the gaze of their peers. Many families have resorted to driving their children to the bus stop, which is not within walking distance due to its magnet program status. Some have given up on the bus altogether, opting to drive their kids the full distance to school.
The bus delays are not isolated to Bates Middle School; similar issues plague the Meade cluster in the western part of the county, according to Mosier. The contracted service provider, Annapolis Bus Co., has not responded to inquiries regarding the situation.
In response to the ongoing delays, families are banding together to ensure their kids arrive on time. Hunt, who operates a small business and has some flexibility, has been coordinating carpools among parents. “We have a spreadsheet where we’ve organized our families’ names for carpooling, but it’s still a lot of gas,” she noted. “Things are expensive.”
As the situation develops, parents are left wondering what measures will ultimately be taken to resolve these persistent delays. For now, the community remains focused on finding solutions that provide their children with a stable start to their day.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned.
