Mathews Elementary School principal rides the bus to ensure student safety

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - The principal of Mathews Elementary School said parents became frazzled when their kids were getting off at the wrong stop on this one particular bus, that was overcrowded.

Principal Jan Green said they are short an entire bus and driver, which is causing too many students to be on one bus.

So, she felt the need to step in and help make sure each child was getting off at the right stop by hopping on the bus herself.

This year, the Muscogee County School District Transportation Department issued bus passes to the parents instead of the schools along with changing routes. Green said the change may have caused some confusion for the students.

"We've made some adjustments to the routes since I've been riding so that students are getting off where they need to and not having to walk too far. Parents are showing up at the bus stop for the younger ones which is important, and so hopefully they know I'm concerned and I'm still trying to work out some kinks," said  Green.

Green said their bus became so overcrowded they had to split the routes into two. Each child gets a dot to signify which route they are going to be on. Green means you're first and blue means you're on the second.

Green said for the first few days of school, she put several teachers on the bus and by the next Monday, she was ready to take over.

"At the beginning of the year, things are hectic, so we just had some problems that we needed to get to the bottom of. We are trying our very best to keep everybody safe and hopefully, the parents realize that safety comes first for us,"- said Green.

Green wants parents to know she is committed to riding until they get another bus for the safety of her students.

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