CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officially initially said their most recent bus fire investigation would last “a day or two” but seven days later, parents are still waiting for answers.
It’s also been more than a month since another CMS bus fire forced students to evacuate. The cause of that fire is still officially considered “inconclusive,” according to CMS.
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In the meantime, students continue to be transported on 250 buses that are the same make and model as the two that became burned-out shells.
Several parents told Channel 9 they are growing frustrated and want the school district to explain what went wrong
“I really do want to know what’s really going on,” parent Lakiesha Weatherspoon said. “Why is it taking so long? I’m pretty sure that’s all parents' concern.”
CMS declined an interview request Thursday to discuss the investigation, citing “scheduling availability.”
"The safety and well-being of students and staff is a top CMS priority every day,” CMS chief communications officer, Tracy Russ, said in a statement. “Investigations continue into the cause of recent bus fires. The district will update CMS families and the broader public as findings are available.”
Channel 9 has learned the district has been showing all CMS students an old bus safety video produced by a school district in California.
The 13-minute video covers various safety procedures and demonstrates multiple evacuation drills.
CMS officials said that 165 schools have certified that all their students watched the safety video. Eleven CMS schools still need to certify they've completed the video training required by the state.
Channel 9 showed portions of the video to a mother of CMS students who said the training video is boring and won’t keep the attention of students these days.
“I would say get on top of the production and technology and better video that would help the kids really catch what you’re trying to tell them,” parent Ylonda Powell-Medley said.
CMS did not offer any updated timeline for their investigation on Tuesday.
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