Unit 5 hoping to have buses running smoothly in next week

Posted on September 2, 2016
Mark Daniel and Bruce Rauner
Superintendent Mark Daniel said their main focus has been the overcrowded buses. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Unit 5 is still working through its various transportation problems, but the district’s superintendent says things are improving.

The district has been experiencing overcrowded and late buses since the first day of school. Superintendent Mark Daniel told WJBC’s Terry James they are targeting Sept. 10 as the day to have everything running smoothly.

“We’ve had a router that was brought on board from First Student. She’s made significant impact in our overcrowding,” Superintendent Mark Daniel said.

First Student is Unit 5’s transportation provider. Daniel explained the overcrowded buses have been their primary focus.

“One of the things we discovered with this process is you need to treat one significant problem at a time,” said Daniel. “It (overcrowding) will continue to be the focus and I don’t think it’s ever going to leave, in regards to our monitoring and focusing.”

Daniel added they have been tracking the number of late buses and the number has gone down. However, he wanted to see the number reach zero.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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