Neal Augenstein, wtop.com
OXON HILL, Md. – A school bus that fails to pick up a child is concerning for any parent.
The parents of elementary school students are expressing anger after their 7-year old daughters weren’t transported to Forest Heights Elementary School Monday.
“It’s unacceptable,” says Krystal Harvell, whose daughter waits for the bus near the busy intersection of Indian Head Highway and Audrey Lane.
Prince George’s County Public Schools officials tell Fox 5 four drivers who carry students to Forest Heights called in sick Monday, and the school system was unable to find enough substitute drivers to cover all the routes.
The result was several young people were stranded at the stop.
“My baby is 7,” Harvell told Fox 5. “She could have been hit, she could have been snatched. Anything.”
The school’s principal eventually came to the neighborhood, and escorted students across busy Indian Head Highway to school.
Despite her frustration at her daughter not being picked up, Nakia Whitney was thankful the principal took action.
“It’s comforting to know that he actually takes the time … making sure his students make it to school safely,” says Whitney.
The school system tells Fox it’s instituted new procedures to ensure the situation doesn’t happen again, and is hiring more drivers.
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