Parents and a speaker press board on bus delays, contracted provider safety after a CST crash
Summary
Public speakers at the Feb. 20 meeting urged the board to address chronic bus delays and highlighted a recent crash involving district-contracted special-education transportation provider CST. Speakers asked the board to review contracts and driver retention strategies.
Several parents and a public speaker urged the Wentzville R‑IV Board of Education on Feb. 20 to address persistent school bus delays and the safety of contracted transportation for special-education students.
A parent reported that her children frequently wait long periods before buses arrive, with recent morning delays of 20–40 minutes that caused tardiness and stress. She asked the board to develop strategies to retain current drivers and attract new ones. Another speaker said his son suffered a vehicle accident involving CST, the district’s contracted provider for special-education transportation; the speaker said the door would not open at the crash scene and described the incident as evidence of problems with vehicle maintenance and service.
Why it matters: Repeated and prolonged bus delays affect student attendance and family schedules; safety concerns about contracted carriers raise questions about contract oversight and maintenance compliance. Several speakers asked for a board workshop focused on transportation, driver recruitment and workplace conditions to identify solutions.
Administration response and next steps: Administration acknowledged staffing shortages and said it was aware of vacancies and call-ins affecting routes. The board agreed to schedule a transportation workshop to discuss driver retention, recruitment and contract oversight, and directed administration to coordinate timing with board and staff availability.
Speakers and specifics: Amy Benenhoffen described long waits of up to an hour after school dismissal and extreme morning cold weather waits; Adam Lawman said his son was in a crash involving CST drivers and said the district had not clearly addressed his prior safety concerns. Board members said they would coordinate with administration to hold a focused workshop on transportation.
