Suffolk Public Schools spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw says late buses decreased as the first week back for students progressed.

After a new staggered schedule and chronic bus driver shortage caused persistent problems during the previous school year, this week was the first test of a significantly tweaked schedule.

But the four-tier system relies on keeping the previous tier on schedule, according to Bradshaw.

“Because of bus driver shortages — as well as other circumstances out of our control such as a traffic accident or road construction — the domino effect … of some buses leaving their first school somewhat late greatly impacts the elementary school tiers,” she stated.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Bradshaw gave as one example, buses ran late after those on the earlier tier had to return students to school when no one was at the stop to meet an Early Start child, or a child got on the wrong bus.

One incident related by a mother on Facebook had a student transported to the Godwin Boulevard YMCA instead of to her home bus stop, where her mother waited for two hours, after she was put on the wrong bus at Pioneer Elementary School.

The district currently has 143 bus drivers, according Bradshaw, which is two more than Transportation Coordinator Lonnie Reavis reported Aug. 27. Fully staffed would be 156 drivers.

To make up the shortfall, the district is looking to hire at least 13 new drivers, according to Bradshaw. All substitutes available to work every day have already been assigned full-time runs, and three new part-time drivers were hired over the summer, she added.

“Significantly fewer” buses made their last stop after 5 p.m. as the week progressed and route adjustments were made, Bradshaw stated.

The district has been fielding requests via email and online forms. “Most requests have been for bus stop changes,” Bradshaw stated, adding that the transportation is continually receiving new-student information from schools.

“The department is updating routes daily to add new bus stops, missing bus stops, requested changes in bus stop locations, and bus stops needed for childcare providers,” she stated.

Routes updates were posted online by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and the School Messenger system was deployed for late bus notifications from Wednesday.

A page dedicated to late buses has also been added at www.spsk12.net, where parents can also submit transportation requests online and email transportation staff.

Bradshaw asked anyone with School Messenger questions to contact her at 925-6752.