Monday had a happy ending for a West Richland mom, but not before her 5-year-old daughter spent an hour "lost" on a tardy school bus.
Kristen Tschida became concerned when the Richland School District bus from Tapteal Elementary didn't arrive as expected at 3:45 p.m. She was even more anxious when the district's transportation department confirmed that several students apparently got on the wrong bus, and the bus driver wasn't answering calls to the bus radio.
"My daughter was put on the wrong bus," a distraught Tschida said when she called the Herald to investigate.
The case of the missing kindergartners occurred because Monday was the first day for some of the district's 62 drivers to take over new routes based on seniority, and there also were two substitute drivers, said David Conrad, transportation manager.
To make it worse, one of the substitute drivers didn't realize the volume was turned down on the bus radio used to communicate with the transportation department.
Conrad said the first school day in November is when the drivers can change to new routes, which has the potential to create confusion.
Colored flags are used to direct students to the right buses, and each driver has a list of students' names, but things can go wrong.
Even when there are mix-ups, as happened with Tschida's daughter and a handful of other students, drivers are required to go back and deliver the students to the correct bus stops.
Tschida was relieved when her daughter showed up just as darkness fell.
"I don't want this to happen again, to anyone," said Tschida, who is considering filing a complaint with the school board.
w John Trumbo: 582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com
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