Parents: School bus stop is dangerous, want it moved

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A couple of parents say it has taken way too long for Albuquerque Public Schools to save their kids from a potentially dangerous bus stop.

One parent, Victor, who did not want to use his full name, told KRQE News 13 their concerns are very real and that something should have been done months ago.

“Oh, it’s ridiculous. I mean, at this point, it should’ve been taken care of,” Victor said. “The bus stop could’ve been moved a half a block down the street, and it would have been resolved.”

On November 20, Victor’s wife reached out to their son’s principal at James Monroe Middle School. She wrote of her concerns for her 12-year-old son’s safety after he said, from the bus stop along Hemlock Ave NW, he saw neighbors beating a dog in broad daylight. The mother also wrote that she had done research, and had reason to believe convicted criminals lived inside that same house.

The principal put the parents in touch with APS's transportation department.

“APS transportation said, ‘Okay, we’ve determined that yes, we need to move the school bus stop and we’ve passed it onto the bus company, and they will be letting the bus driver know when the change will take place,’” Victor recalled.

On January 3, the couple received an email from a transportation official apologizing for the delay, saying Student Transportation Services “will set a goal to get these changes implemented by Friday, January 11, 2013.”

But that didn’t happen. It wasn’t until KRQE News 13 started making calls Monday that APS announced the bus route would change this week.

As of Wednesday morning, APS officials say the bus stop will be deleted from the route and three other stops will be added in its place.

APS says the district has been working with the bus contractor on establishing a new bus stop since the first complaint came in.