By Eric Stock
NORMAL – Unit 5 superintendent Mark Daniel is trying to calm the nerves of upset parents after a series of problems busing students on the first day of school.
Some kids had to ride the bus on the floor because of overcrowding and many buses were late.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Daniel on WJBC.
“I thought we would be better, to be honest,” Daniel said. “That I am somewhat disappointed in. I apologize for our lack of service. We are going to improve on that.”
Daniel told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the district is looking to shift some students to less-crowded buses as they get a better handle of how many students will ride the bus this year.
“Those things you are thinking about, but you don’t know truly the acutla number until that first day,” Daniel said. “That means we have to be on board ready to adjust and to adapt.”
Daniel said he expects more junior high and high school students will take the bus since their school starts later this year.
The district is also adjusting to a new class schedule as a time when it cut close to 20 buses from its fleet to save money.
“We are still at 70 percent funding from the state,” Daniel said. “We can’t have a $1.4 mllion deficit. That is not an excuse. That is reality. We have to deal with that.”
He added the district can only handle so many phone calls at once. Some parents complained they weren’t able to get through when they called the Unit 5 offices.
Daniel said there were few traffic issues at Normal Community High School where road construction has been ongoing.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
