Due to problems with the software that creates school bus routes in Stafford County, Virginia, and a shortage of drivers, some families have to wait up to two hours to pick up their children.

Stafford County Public Schools recognized the problem last week – the first week of school – and made improvements over the weekend.

But Tameka Franklin, who told News4 that her son Daniel’s school bus is regularly an hour late, said things have gotten worse.

“Today was the worst,” she said. “I waited out here for almost two hours this morning before I finally gave up and just drove him to school.”

She said Daniel was really excited about his first day of first grade last week.

“We wait at the bus stop, sing songs, take photos and hold hands,” she said.

But the enthusiasm in her corner turned to concern.

“Twenty minutes went by. Thirty minutes went by. An hour went by. There’s no bus,” Franklin said.

She took Daniel to school, but they dismissed it.

“We thought it was just one of those little mishaps on the first day of school,” she said.

But the problem at the bus stop, where about 30 children board the bus, continued the next day and the day after.

“I think about an hour went by and then they all headed back home,” Franklin said.

SCPS switched to a new transportation management system this year that generates new bus routes and has an app that allows parents to track their children’s buses.

Franklin says the app is about as reliable as the bus.

“And it says ‘completed’,” she demonstrated. “No, it wasn’t completed.”

“The fact that we have to wait out there for almost two hours for a bus that may or may not come is completely unacceptable,” Franklin said.

The school district agrees and apologized to the families. In a statement to News4, a spokesperson said, in part: “We recognize that this situation has broken the trust the community has placed in us and want to assure the community that we are fully committed to restoring that trust.”

SCPS said it will be making additional changes to morning bus routes on Monday. They believe these changes will improve efficiency and give drivers more time to reach those families who have been waiting for hours or don’t have a bus driver at all.

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