MIDDLEBORO – Representatives of Five Star Bus Company said that they  have been working with the school district to improve bus arrival times and communication with families during a school committee meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19. 

Parents have raised concerns regarding students not being picked up by their bus and late school arrival times during past school committee meetings. 

According to Five Star representative Tony Murgo, the company was down four drivers at the beginning of the school year. 

“We do have some spare drivers but they are limited to what they can do,” said Murgo who explained that the spare drivers are limited to part-time hours.

Murgo added that some of the drivers were unfamiliar with the area. 

“The lateness was because the drivers were driving very slow to find the house numbers,” said Murgo. 

Five Star representative Andrew Donnelly added that the company does not allow drivers to use GPS devices for safety reasons and instead use written directions. 

According to Murgo, the company has since hired a full-time assistant manager and are currently onboarding three new drivers. 

“We are headed in a great direction,” said Donnelly. “Our staff is becoming full again.”

Murgo explained that the addition of the full-time assistant manager role will help with communication between the drivers and the school staff being that there will be someone in the office at all times to respond to phone calls. 

He said that part of the communication issue was due to the office manager filling in for drivers, therefore unable to coordinate calls. 

“We apologize for the poor service during the first four weeks of school,” said Murgo. 

Superintendent Carolyn Lyons said that the school will monitor a radio to hear any route updates. 

“I have seen an increase in people feeling informed and a decrease in parents or families reaching out to say ‘hey I am not being communicated with,”’ said Lyons.