Parents in the Mars Area School District are suing the bus company, A.J. Meyers and Sons, and the school district for a very good reason. According to the lawsuit, the driver, Mr. Miller, had a history of accidents — at least three of which are listed.

If he was still allowed to transport students despite this record, it points to serious failures in oversight — not just by the bus company, but also by the school district.

The key question is: Who knew what, and when? I feel that if the school board and administration were aware of his record and failed to act, that is gross negligence. If they were unaware, then why weren’t there better systems in place to track driver safety?

This raises a much larger concern: How many other incidents have been ignored? Are there other drivers with poor safety records still transporting our children? Parents deserve transparency and assurance that student safety is the district’s top priority.

While this lawsuit may bring accountability, it should never have come to this. The school board, administration and transportation provider all have a duty to ensure student safety and this situation suggests a major failure in that responsibility.

We demand immediate answers and action. Has the school board or local officials addressed this issue publicly? Or is it only parents and community members pushing for change? The safety of our students cannot wait!

Rob Vigue, Valencia