Dr. Carrie Cameron, a concerned grandparent with two grandchildren who rely on district buses, said the situation is troubling.
"Would they be safe?" she asked. "They had all year to prepare for this or get ready for it and look into it to make sure that everything is well up to par for our children."
On Sept. 8, Robert Tillberg, a school bus mechanic who works in the 71st Westover area, became visibly emotional as he spoke during a school board meeting. He told board members he is responsible for maintaining 38 buses with little support.
"We typically only have three to four hours of time from the time the bus is parked to the time the buses start again," Tillberg said. "During that time, we expect complete scheduled maintenance, unexpected repairs, and mechanical inspections required by DPI. When I think about the children who get on these buses every day, I trust I have done everything possible to keep them safe. It weighs heavy on me. I should not have to worry that I cannot do my job in the standards that I know it should be done because I am stretched too thin."
Days after the concerns were made public, the district brought in Tharrington Smith, LLP, a Raleigh-based law firm, to conduct an independent review of its operating conditions.
Cumberland County Schools operates a fleet of 482 school buses. Out of 20 bus mechanic positions, only 15 are currently filled, meaning each mechanic is responsible for about 32 buses.
In a statement sent to ABC11, Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy said, "We want our families and employees to know that CCS is listening and taking responsible action. Our transportation procedures are guided by state standards, and this external review will provide an additional, objective assessment of our practices."
The district said it has established procedures to comply with North Carolina Department of Public Instruction standards, including requiring 30-day inspections and directing drivers to report issues before, during and after routes.
Maintenance personnel are responsible for assessing and documenting each report. Buses with out-of-service conditions are not authorized to transport students until repairs are completed, and a spare bus is assigned if necessary repairs cannot be completed in time.
CCS says it is committed to transparency and will share verified updates as they become available.
"We have to look out for them because they don't know how; they're children," Cameron said.
Tillberg has since resigned from his position.
The district says it will continue to provide updates on the investigation as soon as they are available.
Download the ABC11 News app