LETTER: LSTA IN CRISIS? PARENTS DEMAND ANSWERS AS SHUTDOWN RUMORS SPREAD

Lakewood’s Busing Crisis Is Getting Worse — Where Is the Accountability? The Lakewood busing situation has reached a frightening and unacceptable point. We are being told that LSTA needs more money, yet parents are watching the transportation system get worse than ever. Children are being forced onto buses serving two or even three different schools. Kids are waiting outside in extreme heat, sometimes for extended periods, and spending hours traveling on buses just to get to and from school. At my son’s school, approximately half the buses have reportedly been arriving an hour late, while some buses allegedly do not show up at all. How is this acceptable? Where is the accountability? To make matters even worse, I have spoken with people from multiple schools who all say the same thing: there is nobody to talk to. Parents feel ignored. Schools feel powerless. When parents try to get answers, they often receive no response—or worse, they feel they are spoken to rudely. This is not simply an inconvenience anymore. These are children. Parents deserve answers: * Who is responsible for fixing this? * Why are children spending hours waiting or riding on buses? * Why are multiple schools being combined onto the same routes? * If more money is being requested, why does the service appear to be getting worse? * And most importantly, who is holding LSTA accountable? And Now There Are Rumors That LSTA Could Be Shutting Down There are serious rumors circulating that the company may be shutting down. At this point, these are unconfirmed rumors, but the fact that parents are hearing them only adds to the fear and uncertainty surrounding an already broken transportation system. Parents deserve to know what is happening. If there is any truth to these rumors, families need answers immediately. What happens to the thousands of children who depend on buses every single day? It is not right for parents. It is not right for schools. And most importantly: It is not right for our children. Enough with unanswered calls, late buses, missing buses, long rides, and children waiting outside. Lakewood families deserve answers. Our children deserve safe and reliable transportation. And someone needs to be held accountable.