VWSD boys forced to stand on school bus

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Vicksburg Warren School District has allowed the overcrowding of school buses which breaks both federal and state mandates and puts the lives of children at risk.

According to multiple first hand accounts, two school buses which transport children from VWSD’s Academy of Innovation, AOI, to Vicksburg High School and Warren Central High School has allowed too many children to board the buses. The middle aisles of both buses are filled with standing students, who must stand the duration of the ride because all the seats are filled. 

These buses are not to be confused with the arrival or departure buses. The two buses in questions depart AOI at approximately 2:30 p.m. to transport student athletes and band members to the prospective high schools.

One source said, “My son must stand up the entire time because they call all the girls to load the buses first. The girls get the seats while the boys must stand.”

According to data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 976 fatal school bus accidents occurred between 2013 and 2022 nationwide. 1,082 people died and 132,000 people were injured during that timeframe. Between those years, Mississippi had 22 crashes which resulted in 26 fatalities.

This is in direct violation of VWSD’s own bus riding regulations. On Page 4 of the district-wide student handbook, under the heading “Bus: Student Rules and Regulations”, students are expected to stay seated in their assigned seats and always remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.

Additionally, the overloaded buses disregard Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. FMVSS No. 222, School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection, stipulates the seating requirements of all school buses. The standard even regulates the amount of weight a school bus can legally carry. The determinations are based off a formula which factors student weight based on the available seats. With a filled school bus and the additional weight of standing students, the school bus is at risk for carrying over the legal weight limit.

Additionally, this violates the Mississippi Department of Education requirements which state all aisles must be clear.

The MDE standard states the following, “All emergency doors shall be accessible by a twelve inch (12″) minimum aisle. Aisle shall be unobstructed at all times by any type of barrier, seat, wheelchair or tiedown, unless a flip seat is installed and occupied. A flip seat in the unoccupied (up) position shall not obstruct the twelve inch (12″) minimum aisle to any side emergency door.”

VDN reached out to the school district’s home office. VWSD said, “The Vicksburg Warren School District takes all student safety concerns seriously. We are actively reviewing this matter, and any concerns identified will be addressed promptly to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.”