Father of PPS students beyond frustrated over busing issues

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh Public Schools district father tells Channel 11 News his children were dropped off at the wrong bus stop on numerous occasions, forcing them to walk home alone.

“He took my kids a mile over this hillside, and they had to walk back. That was Monday,” said Robert Steadman.

Steadman claims when the first incident occurred, he was waiting for his 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter to get off at their usual Spring Hill stop.

“The driver rode past me, I was waving,” said Steadman.

Steadman’s son, Robert Jr., tells Channel 11 that last Friday, Oct. 29, he tried to notify the bus driver that he was passing their usual stop. When the bus finally let the kids off, the Spring Hill family claims it was nearly a mile away from their home and in an area with few sidewalks. Robert Steadman Jr. says that day he had to walk home in the rain.

“I said our stop is up there, (but) when we went up there, he just ran right past the house,” said Robert Steadman Jr. “My pants were wet, and my little sister was wet.”

The kids, who both attend Pittsburgh Allegheny K-5, are transported by First Student Bus Company. Robert Steadman Sr. tells Channel 11 he contacted the garage supervisor about the issue.

“He told me he would review the cameras and discipline the driver. He never called me back like he ain’t concerned,” he said.

Robert Steadman Sr. also filed a report with the Pittsburgh Police, but they tell us because no crime was committed, Robert Steadman Sr. should take the issue to the school district.

We reached out to Pittsburgh Public Schools about his claims. The district sent us the following statement:

“We have been made aware of Friday’s incident. When students miss their designated stop, drivers typically remind the students to depart the bus. In this case, a substitute driver was dispatched on Friday and did not know the students were getting off at the wrong stop. The normal driver returned today and will review the stop with the students. We encourage parents to have a conversation with their child(ren) about their bus stops to familiarize younger students with departing the bus at the correct bus stop.”

We also made numerous attempts to contact the bus garage, but we were told the supervisor was not available and to call back at a different time and on a different day. We left a contact number for the supervisor and encouraged him to call before this story aired, but we have yet to hear back.

Pittsburgh elementary student found at school bus garage after parents reported her missing

©2021 Cox Media Group