From buses running late to students not being picked up at all, some Barrow County parents had complaints about the school system's transportation department on the first day of school. Others had positive things to say about bus drivers and their students getting to and from school. These are some of the comments posted on Ray Newman's latest column and on Barrow Patch's Facebook page. 

My child attends the CCPA. He waited 3 hours for a bus that never came. We were suppose to receive a call last night telling us the time and bus stop location. We never got that call. The CCPA have their own routes this year instead of being shuttled. At open house the drivers were unable to tell us the bus stop locations or time they would be by our homes. We were told we would be called on Sunday with the info, since the school only has 100 students and not all would be riding the bus. I had to leave work to take my child to school. The transportation deptarent was unhelpful when I called and texted. I was told I would receive a call back, still nothing! — Stephanie Sanders, via comments on Barrow Patch

My kids got picked up and dropped off where they were told they would. They were delayed coming home but the buses usually run Later than normal on the first few days of school. I am very thankful they have bus transportation home. — Carolee Book Hannah, via Facebook 

Transportation also did not answer when I called @ 5pm worried! & the school just put the call on hold when I called! Sad! there was no assurance or information on my little ones when they were not home @ 5pm.... I guess I need my 2nd grader to take a cell phone with her to school so we can know she is OK! The bus was terribly over crowed and put her off 4 driveways up from my house! I didn't see anything on the tweeting page other than today was a good day to start school.... — Christina Etheridge Cassele Daniels, via Facebook 

I know some people whose children have to walk across Route 124(Braselton Highway) out of our subdivision and then walk down 124 to catch the bus. I was at open house and while they were diligent in making sure we still lived at our current address there was ZERO discussion that the bus stops were moving. I am sure there are many children who stood at their usual bus stop this morning and were never picked up. — Concerned in Barrow, via comments on Barrow Patch 

Gary smith bus 804 was very kind and helpful durning the chaos. Some craziness is to be expected, thankful to Yargo staff for working hard! — Kay Elford Biancini, via Facebook 

Just ridiculous what is going on and wrong with the system this year wow it crazy !!!!! My daughter was left on the side of the rd this am with the bus driving right past her nd this afternoon she went straight pass the house with my child in the bus it was almost 5:30 pm when my daughter got home .. Crying before an after bc of the bus .. This is a sad way to start off a child's first day of school. — Christy Steele Baker, via Facebook 

My nephews would have missed the bus entirely because Barrow BOE says that the buses are no longer pulling into the neighborhoods???? They had to walk all the way to the front of the subdivision and cross the street to catch the bus, ridiculous!!! — Nicole 'Oliver' Miller, via Facebook 

we were told at open house to be out at 7:15 for the bus, that the time would fluctuate a bit. We were not told the pick up location had changed.. non of the kids in my neighborhood were told as they were all waiting at the end of their driveways.. after 45 mins of my daughter waiting in the driveway I decided to take her to school and as I exited the neighborhood I saw the bus waiting at the entrance for the kids. I will not send my 2nd grader to the entrance of the subdivision to wait for the bus. This is not safe! Once again, there was a communication failure! I've called the number listed in the twitter feed for help and its disconnected. I've called the number on the Barrow Co Education/Transporation website and its busy. I've text the number on the twitter feeds with no response!! — Concerned Mommy, via comments on Barrow Patch

My daughter who is a 2nd grader this year, finally arrived home @ 5pm. I consistently checked the Twitter feed, & there was not one post about Yargo Elementary & what was happening with the buses. I am very thankful that she is able to ride the bus, however the worry & aggravation on my part & hers today was not needed. You would think that the transportation dept. that does this every year, would be more " on their toes" when it comes to loading the buses in the afternoon. Maybe the persons updating the twitter account & text info should be out there helping instead of updating the status. I wonder how much that IT specialists salary is per year. I can see where some cuts need to be made!! — Keri Bradberry Herrington, via Facebook

The being late is to be expected until they get a routine down, but making children walk down long roads to save money is PATHETIC. — Amanda Drummond McDaniel, via Facebook 

How was your student's school bus experience on the first day back to class? What suggestions do you have for the school system to make improvements? Tell us in comments. 

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