- December 4, 2025
This story was updated on Aug. 28, 2025.
When a handful of parents aired their grievances with Flagler Schools transportation at the Tuesday, Aug. 26, School Board meeting, they acknowledged that the district is listening. They also appreciated that the transportation department is working to make improvements.
Earlier in the day at the board’s information workshop, Director of Transportation OJ Walker presented a 2025-2026 plan that includes an improved communication system with real-time notifications; a standardized routing structure with fixed bus stops that will remain the same year after year for all three tiers — elementary, middle and high schools; and monthly route audits.
The fixed routes will simplify navigation for substitute drivers and provide better continuity for families with children in multiple grade levels, Walker said.
One idea that was popular among board members was preferential kindergartener seating. Kindergarten students who ride the bus will have magnets on their seats letting substitute drivers know not to let off those children if they don’t have an adult waiting at the bus stop.
“That seems like a little thing, but it’s major,” board member Lauren Ramirez said.
Walker said there are 78 allocations for bus drivers. His presentation listed 69 current bus drivers and four van drivers. The district now has 30 full-time bus aides and 12 substitute aides, he said, but only two substitute bus drivers. Walker said they would like to have 10-12 substitute drivers. One possibility would be to hire drivers without commercial driver’s licenses and help them get their CDL’s.
The district is looking into increasing driver allocations within the budget, Superintendent LaShakia Moore said. One problem, Moore said, is transportation is now doing all the training.
Moore noted that the district won’t tolerate adults walking onto a school bus. During an emergency, such as waiting for law enforcement or emergency medical services to arrive, drivers are instructed to keep the doors closed.
“If parents enter our buses, we will trespass them,” Moore said.
Ramirez noted that Dr. Kim Halliday, the district’s director of exceptional student education, has incorporated ESE training into instruction for drivers and aides.
But during the evening’s business meeting, one parent of a child on the autism spectrum said training needs to be interactive and not just a slideshow and drivers and aides of ESE students should be provided with information that applies to the student prior to the start of the school year.
Christy Butler said her children’s bus stop at Old Kings Road and Sugar Mill Drive is on a four-lane road with a 55 mph speed limit. Drivers regularly pass fully stopped buses illegally, she said, and on two occasions she has seen adults almost get hit by cars passing buses that have stopped.
In the past, the bus stop has been moved into the Eagle Lakes neighborhood after the first two weeks of school, but two days into the third week that hasn’t happened, she said.
“A preventable tragedy is waiting to happen,” Butler told the board members. “I invite each of you to sit with me at the bus stop one day. I’ll provide the chairs.”
The parents thanked Moore and Ramirez for responding to their emails. Karen Smith said the district has outstanding bus drivers and she was encouraged by the imporvements that were brought up at the workshop.
“My ask is simple,” she said. “Keep the momentum going.”
The following day, Butler posted on Facebook that the bus stop has been changed.
“I want to thank the Flagler School Board members, Superintendent Moore and the transportation department for truly listening to us parents and acting quickly to keep our kids safe. It means so much to know our voices matter and that our children’s safety is a top priority,” she wrote.
