About 25 parents, bus drivers and concerned residents who attended the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board's meeting Wednesday night expressed their anger and concern at what they call overcrowded, unsafe, and late school buses since classes began Monday.

Bus driver Kirk Brandebura said he is transporting 56 high school students in the morning, and 61 after school, on a 24-seat bus designed for three elementary-sized students to a seat.

The overcrowded situation will only become worse with winter clothing, bulky book bags, and musical instruments, he said.

"To put us in this position so we cannot drive this bus safely is wrong," he said.

Parent Louis Rainaldi said his first-grade daughter rode home from school in the only available seat at the back of a bus, where she was picked on by older children. Her third-grade sister also was upset with the overcrowding and seeing her sister in tears.

Parent Megan Perfetti said the buses were late and overcrowded every morning with middle school students lying in aisles. She had to pick her younger child up at Paynter Elementary School on Monday after school officials telephoned her that there was no room for him on the bus. She has picked him up every day since.

Last month, the board voted unanimously for new transportation schedules that included a consolidation of bus routes from last year's 74 routes to 59 routes at a savings of $350,000 to $450,000 to the district for the school year.

Board members last night made it clear that the situation described by parents is unacceptable and will be corrected immediately.

Board vice president John Schmotzer asked for parents' "indulgence, and to have a little more patience" as the problems are addressed and remedied.

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