'We may have a rough week': 2 frustrated CPS parents have no bus transportation for their kids with special needs
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The first day of classes for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) started with transportation troubles.
CPS vowed to prioritize transportation for special needs students, yet a number of parents tell CBS 2 they are dealing with late rides, no-shows and a lack of answers.
CBS 2's Tim McNicholas reports from CPS headquarters as it was a hectic day for parents and staff.
The phones are certainly ringing on Monday with phone calls from parents with plenty of questions. Some are asking 'how will my kid get to school?'
It was just 12 days ago that CPS said in a statement they would prioritize the busing of special needs students. But on Monday, CBS 2 spoke with two moms who both said CPS did not provide a bus for their kids and they're still waiting on an answer on when that might be fixed.
One of them was told it was due to a clerical error that's now fixed but it could now be up to two weeks before her daughter is on a route.
"The distance that I live to her school, that's an eight mile transport on transportation. And I'd have to take four buses and a train to get there," said CPS parent Kalaveeta Mitchell.
"I did think we may have a rough week, but I am concerned this is gonna go on longer than a week because I don't know who they're gonna find to transport him," said CPS parent Laurie Viets.
Both parents said they were offered the monthly stipend of $500 from CPS to instead transport their kids to school themselves, but they told CPS they did not want that, they wanted a bus instead.
A couple weeks ago, CBS 2 asked CPS if a bus would be provided to parents who turned that down and instead wanted busing. A spokesperson said yes. Why that didn't happen today? CPS sent a statement to CBS 2:
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) remains committed to providing transportation to all eligible students amid a national driver shortage.
The District and its Board of Education has prioritized Diverse Learners and Students in Temporary Living Situations as it creates routes for eligible students. The District has communicated with families through email, phone calls, and postcards to share specific transportation details before the new school year begins today.
While CPS successfully routed the vast majority of diverse learners prior to the first day of school, the District continues to process incoming applications on a rolling basis.
The District communicated with families of general education students in selective programs who may not be routed this year. These students are eligible to receive a free CTA pass for themselves and one adult who may want to accompany them on public transportation.
The District processed all requests as they came in for our June and late-July transportation deadline and that included approving routes for some students in general education classrooms who were routed after we processed applications for Diverse Learners (the District has processed transportation requests we've received.)
We continue to put Diverse Learners first as we receive additional new requests and are aiming to ensure all our Diverse Learners are on buses by the third week of school.