UNIONVILLE, MO -- A Heartland school district drops the company supplying bus service to its students with the start of the school year about two weeks away.
In a special meeting Wednesday evening, the Putnam County School Board voted unanimously to end its relationship with the K M Bus Company of Unionville. Superintendent Heath Halley told us the district has contracted with the bus company for more than 15 years.
When contacted by KTVO News, Halley issued this written statement concerning the decision: “Putnam County R-1 Schools has severed ties with K M because it was dissatisfied with certain procedures regarding the performance of its duties. That is all that we are able to say at this time.”
And now, the school district has a little more than two weeks to figure out how to get its students to and from school this fall.
The superintendent says he is currently working on a lease/purchase plan that would allow the school district to get 18 buses.
He added they will be putting newer, better and safer buses on the road this school year.
Halley says he is planning to hire all the K M drivers who meet all the state requirements necessary to be a school bus driver.
Ricky Parris, 52, of Pollock, who was a bus driver for K M. He was fired after being charged in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred on one of the school buses during summer school.
Parris is charged with one count of child molestation for allegedly behaving inappropriately with a 7-year-old boy who rode his bus.
The next court date for Parris is scheduled for August 28. He has been released on $75,000 bond.
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