Right bus, wrong stop

Indigo Artis' trip home from her first day of kindergarten took an unexpected turn.

The 5-year-old girl was dropped off at the wrong stop last Tuesday in the rain, her father Will Artis said.

"My daughter walked the street for about 40 minutes until a gentleman came across her, saw the name tag, put her in the car and, by the grace of God, brought her home," he said. The name tag had both Indigo's name and address on it.

Indigo was supposed to be dropped off at the intersection of Village Drive and Cory Circle in Brynn Marr, but was dropped at the intersection of Winchester Drive and Greenbrier Road.

"It was just a poor experience for both my family and my child," Artis said.

Indigo, however, was not the only student who got off at the wrong stop.

"For the opening of the 2008-09 school year, we are aware of four incidents where students got off at the wrong stop," Earl Taylor, director of community affairs for Onslow County Schools, said in a written response to The Daily News. "This number is higher than usual. The opening of school was complicated this year since we opened a new elementary school, redistricted several schools, added a new elementary magnet school and are transporting students to different schools due to schools of choice."

Students who get off at the wrong stop, he said, should inform the bus driver provided the bus is still there.

"The bus driver will use the two-way radio to contact their district transportation coordinator, who then will contact the school for updated information to determine the appropriate bus stop and home address," Taylor said. "Depending on the location and distance from the appropriate bus stop, the school will notify the parent of any extended delay."

If a parent is waiting at the bus stop for his or her child and the child does not get off the bus, they, too, should notify the driver. In that situation, the driver will likewise contact their district coordinator and school.

"Parents are encouraged to remain at the bus stop provided the school has their cell phone number or to return to their home and wait for a call from the school," Taylor said. "The parents should be available for a phone call from the school system at all times."

Taylor said steps are taken to ensure that students are dropped at the correct stop.

"At the beginning of the school year, schools use the home addresses provided by the parents from the previous school year unless they have been updated by the parents. During the opening days of school, parents or guardians must complete a ‘Stop Locator Form,' which verifies where students should be picked up or dropped off in the morning and afternoon," Taylor said.

With 264 yellow school buses, 765 routes and 251 bus drivers that can make between 25 and 60 stops between the school and last home, "most issues" are resolved in the first two weeks of school, Taylor said.

"Bus drivers need time to acquaint themselves with their students, parents and their neighborhoods," Taylor said.

The routes and stops, Taylor said, are determined through the Transportation Information Management System, which identifies a student's residence and determines the most efficient route.

"Drivers are given a printout of their route and the established stops from the prior year. Drivers are also provided the names of the students on their bus," he said.

Safety, Taylor said, is a major concern when it comes to students riding the bus.

"The board recognizes that providing safe transportation requires the cooperation of students, parents and personnel. The bus driver is responsible for not only transporting students to and from school in a safe and timely manner but supervising student behavior as well," he said.

Indigo's first bus experience, Artis said, was "unacceptable."

Since Indigo's first ride, her parents have drilled her on not getting in cars with strangers, remembering her phone number and asking police officers for help, her father said.

But that first bus ride still isn't over for the 5-year-old.

"She's had bad dreams. She didn't sleep well the first night; she had to sleep with my wife and I to be comforted," Artis said. "I'm sure it'll be an experience that she'll remember and it was her first experience."

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.