Oak Park District 97 is apologizing to its parents for problems incurred on some district school buses during the first two weeks of school, including buses running late and stops being missed.

A letter went out to parents Tuesday from Supt. Al Roberts with an apology and assurances that the problems will be corrected. The district’s buses are provided by Lakeview Bus Lines. The Bellwood-based company has provided regular and special education buses to D97 for 22 years.

The district renewed the company’s contract in 2013 for two years and is currently spending close to $3 million for the service. The district re-upped with the company despite similar complaints at that time from parents.

Lakeview provides about 20 buses for roughly 1,700 students in D97 who use the service, according to the district’s estimates.

At the time the contract was renewed in June 2013, Roberts said that was the first time the district had heard such complaints about service. He noted that many parents have experienced no problems and are pleased with the bus service.

The district, he added, takes all complaints and concerns seriously, and in his letter to parents Tuesday, Roberts called these latest problems “unacceptable.”

“I understand there have been a few transportation issues during the past two weeks, and want to apologize to those of you who were impacted,” he said. “We realize that a number of you depend on our buses to get your child to and from school safely and on time. Unfortunately, the service we have provided since the start of the school year has been inconsistent and unreliable. This is simply unacceptable.

“As a community, we demand the best from our students; however, we, and the vendors that work on our behalf, must set the example by living up to the standards that you have for us and we have for ourselves,” Roberts said.

He added that he’s spoken with Lakeview officials, central office administrators and building principals about following existing procedures and protocols moving forward.

Roberts also asked parents for their assistance in improving the district’s transportation service.

“The first task is to make sure your child only rides the bus he/she was assigned to at the start of the year. The second task is to make sure your child only boards or departs the bus at the designated stops on the established routes. By helping us with these two vital functions, you will enable us to maintain a more efficient and effective system for transporting our students,” Roberts said.

According to D97 spokesperson Chris Jasculca, Lakeview has been very responsive in addressing the matter.

 “They are working with their drivers to minimize delays and disruptions in service, and ensure they are following the processes, procedures and protocols we have in place for getting students to and from school safely and on time,” Jasculca said.

The bus problems were brought to the district’s attention by families and staff at the school buildings, Jasculca said, adding that the actual bus routes are determined by Lakeview and the district.

“We provide the company with the names and addresses for the students who are eligible for transportation, and they input that information into a software program that maps the routes and stops. Those routes and stops are then reviewed by district administrators and building principals before being finalized,” Jasculca said.

The company is working with the district on possible modifications to the software system to address families’ inquiries about routes and stops, Jasculca said.

CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com