Parents frustrated with IPS bus issue

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The busing issue created a lot of frustration and headaches for some parents today. Many of them had to scramble and find a way to pick up their children from school.

IPS said they plan to meet over the weekend to figure out what to do about the busing issue. They said they hope to have a plan in place by Sunday evening.

It's only been a full two weeks of school for IPS students. Teachers and administrators seem to be happy with the way things are going. But if you ask some parents, they have nothing to smile about right now after their kids had no way home from school.

"Why all of this all of sudden; what if I was at work," said IPS parent Tomecka Carpenter

"This is ridiculous," said IPS parent Toni Borner.

"They just called and said the busses would be late," said another IPS parent.

Friday afternoon, dozens of parents received automated calls from IPS alerting them their child could be up to two hours late getting home because of a lack of bus drivers. They were also given the option to pick up their child at school. Carpenter received three automated calls.

"One from Tech, one from Christian park and one from School 15 saying my kids were going to be late getting home," she said.

Four busses didn't show up at Thomas D. Gregg Elementary School.

"It's just very disappointing that children would be put in the middle of a job action," said IPS Spokesman John Althardt.

Dozens of parents had a way to get here to pick up their children, but what about the ones who didn't have transportation?

"My kids have to ride a school bus because I don't have transportation," Borner said.

Borner lives on the south side and walked to IPS 15 to pick up her son.

"I'm going to have to do something; or I'm going to have to put him in another school in the neighborhood," she said.

Tawana Percy is disabled and depends on the bus picking up her daughter from Broad Ripple High.

"We're still in the blind; so we don't know what's going to happen on Monday morning. Are they going to come and pick our kids up?" Percy said.

IPS said they plan to meet this weekend to figure out a plan for Monday morning.

Look for updates at wishtv.com.