MURFREESBORO, TN (WSMV) -
Murfreesboro City Schools have a growing problem on their hands - more students have enrolled, but that's not the problem. About 1,000 students are requesting to ride buses to and from schools, which have caused some buses to be overcrowded, and some late arrivals.
Shannon Payeur has two sons, a kindergartner and a first-grader who ride Murfreesboro City School buses.
"Both of our children go to two different schools and they start at the same time. It's hard to get both of them to different schools," Payeur said.
Besides the convenience, she knows they are in good hands.
"As a parent I really don't have fear of my children riding on the bus, I know they are safe and having fun," Payeur said.
This year there are 200 new students attending city schools, that's not even counting the 1000-plus other students who requested to ride buses.
"Last year we had bus ridership of about 2,300, and this year we've received requests of 3,300 students wanting to ride the bus to and from schools," Murfreesboro City Schools Finance Director Gary Anderson said.
More and more parents are choosing not to wait in the car rider line, and for good reason.
"We think one of the big reasons of course, is the price of fuel, the economy," Anderson said.
This is forcing some bus drivers to run double, even triple routes, which have some students arriving to school and home a little late.
"That's some of the things we're trying to limit so there is not so much of a delay," Anderson said.
Relief is in sight. The school board has approved $500,000 to buy three new buses.
"Two of these buses will be a regular education buses, and one will be a special education bus that also allowed for us to hire the drivers and pay for fuel," Anderson said. "We will also hire bus assistants."
Before the buses can hit the road, state inspectors will have to check them out to make sure all the safety features are operational, before students can be transported.
The new buses are expected to roll within the next week or two, giving students some much-needed relief.
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