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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
A bus driver shortage in Cheatham County is taking a toll on students and drivers. Parents say their children are riding the bus more than 2 hours, which is a violation of state law. The Director of Schools, Dr. Stan Curtis, says it is taking longer to get children home, but no state laws are being broken. We spoke with one bus driver who says the county is trying to cut corners and it's putting drivers and students at risk. After spending almost 2 hours on a hot school bus Wednesday, Conner Dieal and his brother Drew weren't excited about Thursday.
"I don't even want to go to school tomorrow, go on the bus," says Dieal. "It's too crowded and too hot. It's just outrageous."
Jimmy Carter has been driving a Cheatham County school bus for 10 years. He says this year they're simply aren't enough drivers to cover all the routes.
"They got 54 drivers now," says Carter. "Before the first day of school, they were 6 drivers short, and I know they're a couple more short now."
Carter says the District cut the number of bus routes from 80 down to 60, which means delays and more time on the bus for drivers and students. Dr. Curtis says the District has 54 drivers to cover 60 routes. He explained it this way: a bus driver picks up students from School B and drops them off at School A. The students from School A are dropped off at home. Then the driver goes back to School A to pick up and drop off children form School B. He insists no students are on the bus for more than an hour and a half, which would be a violation of state law.
"You probably got a single bus making a couple trips transporting 200 kids," says Carter. "It's just bad."
Carter says the driver shortage is keeping some students on the bus more than 2 hours, creating a dangerous situation for everyone aboard the bus. The Director of Schools says Cheatham County has had more than its share of negative publicity over the recent resignation of Schools Director Dr. Tim Webb. He says the District is working to straighten out the bus situation and training. FOX17 NEWS will continue to stay on top of this story for you. We'll be sure to pass along any new developments.
"I don't even want to go to school tomorrow, go on the bus," says Dieal. "It's too crowded and too hot. It's just outrageous."
Jimmy Carter has been driving a Cheatham County school bus for 10 years. He says this year they're simply aren't enough drivers to cover all the routes.
"They got 54 drivers now," says Carter. "Before the first day of school, they were 6 drivers short, and I know they're a couple more short now."
Carter says the District cut the number of bus routes from 80 down to 60, which means delays and more time on the bus for drivers and students. Dr. Curtis says the District has 54 drivers to cover 60 routes. He explained it this way: a bus driver picks up students from School B and drops them off at School A. The students from School A are dropped off at home. Then the driver goes back to School A to pick up and drop off children form School B. He insists no students are on the bus for more than an hour and a half, which would be a violation of state law.
"You probably got a single bus making a couple trips transporting 200 kids," says Carter. "It's just bad."
Carter says the driver shortage is keeping some students on the bus more than 2 hours, creating a dangerous situation for everyone aboard the bus. The Director of Schools says Cheatham County has had more than its share of negative publicity over the recent resignation of Schools Director Dr. Tim Webb. He says the District is working to straighten out the bus situation and training. FOX17 NEWS will continue to stay on top of this story for you. We'll be sure to pass along any new developments.
Friday, August 17 2012, 04:43 AM CDT
Tennessee News
Ky. veteran killed in Afghanistan blast
May 17, 2013 23:53 GMT
FORT THOMAS, Ky. (AP) -- A Kentucky veteran who was working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan has died in an explosion in Kabul that killed at least 15 people including six Americans.
The father of 26-year-old Michael Robert Bradford of Fort Thomas said his son was smart, good in different sports and about to become a father.
Gary "Moose" Bradford, also of Fort Thomas, told The Kentucky Enquirer (http://bit.ly/12i0nVO ) he found about his son's death from Michael Bradford's wife, Sasha, on Thursday afternoon. He said he was in total disbelief.
The couple's first child is due in a few weeks.
Two American soldiers were killed along with four American civilian contractors with DynCorp International, based in Falls Church, Va.
Other survivors include his mother, Linda Bradford of Johnson City, Tenn.
Information from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com
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