Parents complain of school bus troubles around Halifax

"Some parents" in the Halifax area have been concerned about the school bus service so far, the Halifax Regional School board says.

"The first few days of school are challenging as new routines and schedules get established," spokesman Doug Hadley said in an email Friday. "We did hear from some parents who expressed concerns with school busing these first two days."

School board officials intend to connect concerned parents with school-bus operators Stock Transportation and school principals, Hadley wrote.

Among those concerned is Katie Caton of Bedford, who had an anxious wait for the school bus to arrive with her seven-year-old daughter Thursday afternoon.  

"Every bus from every school had come by and dropped off children, come and gone and none of them had my daughter," said Caton, who lives in the Royale Hemlocks subdivision.

Kids giving directions

Caton said she also was unable to get anyone from Stock Transportation to call back. 

The bus finally did show up 45 minutes late, she said. The driver did not seem familiar with the area, she said.

"[My daughter] said they had been driving around the whole time trying to figure out where everybody lives," Caton said. "A ten-year-old and an eight-year-old were giving the bus driver directions."

Stock Transportation has not replied to a request from CBC News for an interview.

'Who knows what would have happened'

This isn't the first time Caton has had issues with Stock Transportation. Two years ago, she said her daughter was dropped off at the wrong stop and became lost. 

Caton said she found her crying an hour later after driving around the neighbourhood.  

Tristan Norman, who lives in Clayton Park, said during confusion about bus stops, his seven-year-old daughter was allowed to leave the bus at another stop where a friend and her father were standing.  

"Thankfully my friend was there, but if this had been any other stop, who knows what would have happened," Norman said.