Families of students attending Unity Classical Charter School were told to make alternative transportation arrangements after the school’s bus provider abruptly ended its services, reported Queen City News.
According to the news report, Infiniti Transportation notified the southwest Charlotte charter school that it would terminate service effective Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to a message Headmaster Sharon Dougherty sent to families Sunday evening. The company’s final day operating morning and afternoon routes was Monday, Aug. 31.
Unity Classical Charter School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Students returned for the new school year, Aug. 26. Before Infiniti Transportation ended the agreement, school officials had reportedly received multiple complaints from parents about significant delays, routing problems, an inoperable bus-tracking system and driver performance, according to the message.
School leaders reportedly said they contacted the company to address the reported problems and requested information regarding its qualifications and certifications. The school also sought documentation related to driver screening and training.
“Unfortunately, rather than work with Unity to address these concerns and provide the requested information, Infiniti informed Unity that it is terminating its transportation services to the school,” Dougherty wrote via the article.
Until the school secures another provider, families whose children normally ride the bus must drive them to campus and use the regular carpool lane. Dougherty acknowledged that the sudden cancellation gave families little time to arrange transportation, particularly those who depend on the bus service.
“We are deeply sorry for the disruption this will cause our families and understand the significant burden that this unexpected change places on you,” she wrote via the news report.
The school reportedly said it would be flexible regarding students who arrive late because of the cancellation. Families were asked to notify the school if their children’s arrival would be delayed while they established new transportation arrangements.
School leaders said they are working to identify another transportation provider. The school did not provide a timeline for when bus service could resume.
Infiniti Transportation had not publicly commented on the cancellation or the concerns cited by the school as of Tuesday.
Written with the Assistance of AI.
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