Bus driver shortage leads to worry and concern for Columbus County mother

RIEGELWOOD, NC (WWAY) — For hours, one Columbus county mother had no clue where her four-year-old child was, and now she wants answers from the school district.

“I was panicked, I mean i didn’t know what to do. I was shaking- terrified. I had never felt like that. I’ve always known where my son is, I’ve always known,” Julia Toney said.

Toney says that her child attends pre-k at Acme Delco Elementary School.

She says he has a new bus driver because of a bus driver shortage.

Toney says the driver almost dropped her child off at the wrong home, until the 4-year-old said something.

The bus driver took Toney’s child back to the school. She says no one contacted her for two hours.

“I hadn’t heard from anyone, I tried calling the school several times. You know they don’t have anyone at the school after hours. There’s no forwarding system set up. There’s no way for me to contact anyone,” Toney said.

Jonathan Williams, assistant superintendent of Columbus County schools, says the the bus driver shortage is a large issue but they’re working on it.

“This is a problem that is statewide, there is a bus driver shortage and what we try to do each year is secure the safest and most competent bus drivers we can,” Williams said.

Williams says this was an isolated incident and parents should have nothing to worry about.

“Our parents should take comfort in the fact and will take comfort in the fact that if there is no one in the home, if we can’t recognize, if no one can verify that a child is there, that child will be taken back to the school,” Williams said.

Toney says she is not alone. She says other parents are concerned about their children in this situation and they hope that it will be dealt with swiftly.