RICHMOND, Va. -- A school bus known as "the late bus" arrived as scheduled for the first time after concerned parents called CBS 6 Problem Solvers.
Since the start of the school year, the Zeh family has been walking their two special needs sons to and from Blackwell Elementary in the city's Southside.
Julie and Justin Zeh said they were promised the bus would arrive at 8:48 a.m., but that never happened even after repeated calls to school leaders.
Julie said the bus didn’t arrive until 9:22, which is nearly a half hour after the start of school.
"Everyone at school says, 'That's the late bus,'" she said. "I just think it's discrimination because it's also the exceptional education bus."
The Zeh's 8-year-old son Tyler is confined to a wheelchair, which does not make the 10 minute trek to school any easier.
After no solutions, the family called CBS 6 Problem Solvers who took their concerns to the school system on Tuesday.
"Our transportation department has confirmed that the parent contacted management this morning regarding this issue and was told that it would be resolved no later than this Friday. Since then, this bus route has been divided and an additional bus driver has been assigned to it,” said spokeswoman Kenita Bowers in a statement.
Wednesday morning, CBS 6 waited with the Zeh family at the bus stop in front of their home. The bus eventually arrived at 8:50 a.m. and on-time.
"We are happy, exastic, and grateful," the couple said. "The CBS 6 Problem Solvers helped! Hopefully it can be sustainable for the rest of the school year."
Bowers also said this particular bus route is longer than desired and adding an additional bus driver should alleviate the challenges of picking up students on time. She also cited a district-wide bus driver shortage.
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