Problems with bus company

[bumblebee23]

I have had it up to here with the bus company our school uses. Does anyone else school use Minneapolis Suburban Bus Company? If so what kinds of problems have you noticed?

We have had non stop issues with them since the boys started going to this school. Most of the time things get better but here and there I will have to call them about something. This year things are terrible! I have already had to call them 4 times! The first day of school my boys had to be escorted off the bus by the police. I don't know the whole story yet but my youngest called me and told me the bus driver was calling him names. Something about poop stains! Are you fing kidding me! Bullies are bad enough but an adult saying this to a kid. I haven't had a chance to talk to him about it yet but I am super pissed off.

Here is part of my problem. I call the bus company AND the school ever time there is an issue. The bus company tells me they will look into it but I don't think they are doing crap. Plus I am sick of the school placating me by telling me there isn't really much they can do besides bring there concerns to the bus company....ummmm how about STOP GIVING THEM YOUR BUSINESS! There have been several safety concerns, the bus driver ignoring the kids (once my son was being hit repeatedly and asked for help and the bus driver told him to be quite and sit down!), I don't think they are properly teaching their drivers how to read/drive their routes or give proper safety training.

So what else can I do? Obvisiouly trying to talk witht he bus company and the school is not helping. I feel helpless and my kids are suffering for it. I LOVE the school they go to but things are so bad with this company I am seriously considering pulling them from this school. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!

[bunsy]

Go higher up at school. Talk to the superintendent and the school board. Talk to as many parents as possible and get them to bring their concerns as well. If it gets loud enough, there will maybe be response.

[bumblebee23]

The boys attend a Charter school that I know is sponsored by Volunteers of America....other then that I don't know anything about the superintedent or even if there is one.

So I got home today and DS2 tells me the bus driver was calling him poop stains, poopy pants, and at one point he took off his sweater because he was hot and he proceeded to tell him he also had poop stains on his back and wiped his butt with his back. Are you kidding me! He is an adult this is way beyond uncalled for!

[bumblebee23]

This is a copy of the report. I don't think I stated things very well I have never filed a complaint before but I hope I got my point across.

COMPLAINT ACTIVITY REPORT Case # 57237597 Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota

Business Info: Minneapolis Suburban Bus Company
302 W 59 1/2 St
Minneapolis, MN 55419
612 866-6628



Location Involved: (Same as above)

Consumer's Original Complaint :
Safety violations, improper training of drivers, and drivers bully a child.
We have had some minor complaints such as the drivers driving to fast over bumps resulting in my son falling into the isle and ripping his pant leg or hitting his chin on the seat, bullies on the bus and the bus being late and these where delt with.
However,last year on one occassion my youngest was being hit and when my boys tried to tell the bus driver and get help he told them to sit down and be quite. I also ended a stop for them and requested they only be dropped off at home from then on. My boys continued to tell me they where being dropped off at the other location even after repeatedly telling the driver that was no longer their stop and making them cross a busy street to get home. I had to call dispatch on several different occasions speaking to people on the line and leaving messages to change the address and I was assurred it was done. After the 1st day of school this year I found out they had the old address listed again. Which I asked them to correct and they continued to try to drop them off at the wrong location and at one point my husband told the driver to pencil it in on his route and not to drop them off over there.
On the 1st day of school this year my boys and several other children had to be escorted off the bus by the police. I called the bus company to find out why my kids where late and was told that the bus was at the old stop mentioned above. I drove there and they where not. So she told me they where actually at another location and that parents where holding up the bus and not letting it proceed. When I asked why she told me she didn't know it was some language issue - she believed the parents where spanish speaking and where trying to get information from the driver but didn't understand. I asked her to call the driver and give him permission for me to get my kids off the bus which she agreed to. When I pulled up two women were standing in front of the bus hysterical (and not spanish speaking) because the driver had their kids on the bus and was driving past stops on his route and was refusing to let the kids off the bus. The police arrived and spoke with the driver. I noticed he didn't seem to have a very good understanding of his route or where he was going. He was fired after that day. However, I don't feel it was his fault Mpls Suburban is not properly training their drivers.
After this incident I heard reports of students running up and down the isle while the bus was in motion and throwing things at eachother and out the window which is a safety violation and the driver wasn't doing anything about it. On another occasion my son was being hit and picked on one day and when I asked him if he told the bus driver he told me no because they don't do anything about it anyway. That's how bad things are when an 8 year old can't ask for help.
Today 10/9/12 my son came home telling me the bus driver was calling him names: poopy pants, poop stains, and when he took off his sweater the driver told him he had a poop stain on his back to and wipes his butt with his back. This is unexceptable behavior for an adult to act towards a child. I have reported every incident I have heard about to both the school and to Mpls Suburban bus company/Dan Berg the supervisor. I am always told they will look into, review tapes, talk to drivers, call me back but I get the feeling nothing is ever being done about it. I'm sure not getting any phone calls letting me know how they are handling these problems and the problems aren't getting any better they seem to be getting worse this year.
There have been to many safety violations and if that isn't enough and adult is now bullying my child. I want something done about this. This company in my opnion should not be allowed to drive children anywhere because they are not concerned about their safety or their mental wellness.

Consumer's Desired Resolution:
I want to see proper training of drivers so they have a better understand of safety issues, routes, and understanding of dealing with children. Mpls Suburban itself needs to get more organized with it's files and return phone calls and concerns from parents.I would really like to see a 3rd party monitoring their hiring and training practices to see what other violations they have and correct them. They are responsible for our children and we can't be to careful or submissive about problems they are exhibiting.

BBB Processing

10/09/2012 web BBB Complaint Received by BBB

[slufoot]

When I was teaching in IL, we had one bus that was horribly behaved, and the school talked to the bus company and got a camera installed so everyone would know what happened. It was a high school bus and the police had been called a couple of times. Don't know if this would be something the school would be receptive to?

[bumblebee23]

I am told by the bus company that there are cameras on the bus and when I ask them to review the tapes and call me back with a report on what they saw or how they are going to handle a situation I NEVER get a return phone call back. Which leads me to beleive that they are seeing the problems I am reporting and they just don't want to own up to them!

[deannemdm]

Try letter to the editor or opinion piece about it-- or try whistleblower-- no one wants bad press-- tell the company and school about your plans if nothing is done and get other parents involved- ask if you can see the tapes of the bus ride--try to demand it-- and spread the word!

[bumblebee23]

ok got a call from the bus company today and the viewed the tape. The driver did in fact call Tyler names and then those jerks allowed him to get back into the bus with my kids! I have filed a formal complaint with the BBB, the bus company, and the school. I need to find the info for the MN Board of Education and can't seem to find it.....so if anyone can forward a link or anything. I am so pissed I think I would sue if I could!

[deannemdm]

aren't there laws about bullying? WOuld you be able to press charges against the driver and/or school? Or is it just kid to kid and not adult to kid?

[AuntSueto4]

Hi Mo,

So sorry this is happening to your ds. It is so awful for the bus driver to be doing this. Hopefully something will be done soon, with the driver.

Try the links below: Hope this is what you are looking for.

education.state.mn.us/MDE/Welcome/Policies/index.html

Model School and District Policies

The Minnesota Department of Education is in the process of gathering all of its agency policies as well as model policies that we develop for districts and schools to use for various programs. Subscribe to the appropriate page to receive an e-mail alert as new policies are added to these pages.

Document Download:

Model Crisis Management Policy
In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.035, each school board must adopt a written crisis management policy.

Model Hazing Prohibition Policy
In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.69, each school board shall adopt a written policy governing student or staff hazing and include such policy in the student handbook on school policies.

Model Harassment and Violence Prohibition Policy
In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.03, each school board must adopt a written policy prohibiting harassment and violence, which shall made available to all school personnel and students.

[bumblebee23]

I don't know about pressing charges.....that's the thing if someone knows if I can I would like to because there is no reason this should have happened to my son.

Thanks Sue I will check out those links!

[bumblebee23]

found out said bus driver had a police report filed on him a few weeks ago by another parent for driving erratically, taking turns to fast, and refusing to stop. Not only that but also found out he would swear at the kids.

[lilmermaid]

Keep pushing Mo!!!

[jlschlangen]

MO keep pushing or call a tv station to do some investigative reporting on this bus co. or this bus driver. Thinking of you. Hugs to you & your ds.

[AuntSueto4]

Hi Mo,

I saw your posting on KARE11's facebook page, but no one posted to it from the station.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!!!

Find anything on the links?

I want safety and anti-bullying for your ds and his fellow bus riders. See if you can get more parents involved/try as a group to get action.