Planter's Pointe a squeaky wheel

After various complaints from parents in the Planter's Pointe subdivision, Charleston County School district officials and Durham Bus Services officials are taking action.

But according to Jason A. Sakran, communications specialist with the school district, the number of riders was below the official capacity. Bus 246 did have more students ride than was expected. Parents complained that their children were sitting on the floor of the bus beause there were not enough seats.

"The number exceeds what we strive to have on the bus at one time," Sakran said. "Durham Bus Services is aware and is providing an additional relief bus until the route can be officially divided up (which is expected to occur on Tuesday)."

Katie McClure of the district's transportation office said via Sakran that the official bus capacity is 78. "Durham strives to only have 60 middle school students on a bus at one time," she said. On Friday this bus had 70 riders. A Durham representative inspected the bus before it left the school, and when it departed everyone was in a seat and no one was on the floor.

"If students sat in the aisle, they did so after the bus left," Sakran added. "CCSD and Durham are investigating to ensure that the driver followed the proper protocol after the bus left the school, and that students followed the bus guidelines outlined in the student code of conduct."

(Sully Witte can be reached by emailing editor@moultrienews.com.)