DEER PARK, Wash. — All school buses returned to service this afternoon in the Deer Park School District after nine routes were canceled this morning, leaving parents scrambling to get their children to school.
The district notified parents late Monday evening that several bus routes would not operate, citing “unexpected circumstances” in the initial announcement. According to the district, the number of affected routes continued to climb throughout the evening, ultimately reaching nine canceled routes by morning.
Many parents remained frustrated over the lack of transparency about what caused the disruption.
The cancellations stemmed from what district officials described as a driver shortage that has persisted throughout the year. Transportation Supervisor Kerri Leliefeld said the canceled routes were due to a mix of drivers on leave and calling out sick.
“A big shortage. We’ve had a shortage. This is nothing new,” Leliefeld said.
Parent Elora Dornquast was among those who received the district’s alert messages. While her child’s route continued to operate, the situation served as a wake-up call about the importance of school transportation.
“When we don’t have it… it is just a complete disruption,” Dornquast said. “You don’t realize what you have until you lose it.”
For other parents, the morning cancellations created significant challenges. Anna Reinsch, a parent in the district, said she decided to bring her child in due to the lack of clarity in the district’s message on the cancellations.
“I work, so it’s not as easy for me to just get up and drive him to school,” Reinsch said.
Leliefeld said the district has gotten creative in the past when dealing with being short-staffed. “My mechanics drive, everybody drives,” Leliefeld said. “Sunday is really when it started hitting us when my subs called out, when your subs called out, that’s when you’re in trouble.”
Leliefeld emphasized that school transportation plays a crucial role in students’ education, extending beyond simply providing rides to school.
“We are part of the kids’ education. We are a part of the schools and different things. Because if they didn’t get to school, it was because of the big yellow bus. And that’s where they start,” Leliefeld said.
To restore afternoon service, the district mobilized additional resources, with mechanics, office staff, and drivers from other districts stepping in to cover the affected routes.
For Dornquast, the disruption highlighted the need for the district to recognize the importance of infrastructure investments.
“I just hope that the school system actually evaluates what’s a priority. Are bleachers a priority over a bus barn? It’s just some of the things to evaluate because they are incredibly important,” Dornquast said.
The district expects normal bus service to resume Wednesday morning.
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