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Elia Apologizes For Delay In Getting Bus Info To Parents

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Published: August 15, 2008

Updated: 08/15/2008 01:09 pm

TAMPA - Hillsborough County schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia apologized to parents and took responsibility this morning for the delay in getting bus stop information to parents.

"I don't believe this was up to our usual standards," she said in her annual back-to-school news conference that was webcast to schools.

The district is in its second year of tightening up bus routes to increase efficiency. That includes eliminating stops, placing them farther apart in most cases and not providing bus transportation for students who live within two miles of their school.

Elia said the district waited too long to begin the long process of sending parents letters notifying them there would be changes, making the changes, holding meetings with parents, adjusting the plan and mailing parents their bus stops information.

Schools open Monday, and many parents don't know where their child's bus stop is or whether they will get transportation.

Elia said there was a 14-minute wait this morning for parents calling a transportation hot line set up by the district and that she would check on reports of parents being cut off.

Linda Cobbe, school district spokeswoman, said earlier today that "we got through this morning" but later attempts to call the number were unsuccessful.

On some attempts, the line went dead before it was picked up. Other attempts rang busy, she said.

Elia extended the hours for the hot line. It will take calls through 9 tonight and also be open from 4 a.m to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The number is (813) 982-5500.

Parents can also call (813) 272-4000, the school district's main switchboard. From there, callers can be routed to the proper lines, Cobbe said.

This morning, the hot line number remained listed on the school's Web site, which also said, "The transportation call center has been receiving a high volume of calls. If you have difficulty getting through, please be patient and try again later."

Parents can also call their child's school.

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