WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Vandalism delays North Central school buses

Vandalism delays North Central school buses

KERSHAW COUNTY, SC (WIS) - School buses for Baron DeKalb Elementary, Bethune Elementary, Mt. Pisgah Elementary, Midway Elementary, North Central Middle and North Central High schools operated on a two-hour delay Tuesday morning due to some vandalism.

Authorities are looking into who slashed the tires, and busted out windows, in over 20 school buses in the district.

"This morning we found that 25 of our 29 buses in the North Central area had tires slashed, windows broken and some other damage," said Mary Anne Byrd, Communications Director for the Kershaw County School District.

Melanie Seegars and her kids were a part of the group affected by the vandalism. Melanie also drives one of the district's buses.

"My two boys get up at 4:45 every morning and they come over with me and they ride with me," said Seegars.

That normal routine was interrupted.

"But then my brother was like, 'Yo the bus is leaning' and then I was like, 'Someone must have flattened the tires or something like that,'" said Ealey Seegars.

Melanie's bus along with 24 others had been vandalized.

Byrd said bus transportation for nearly 400 students was delayed for about two hours Tuesday, but all schools opened on a regular schedule.

The unexpected bill handed to the Kershaw County School District is going to be at least $15,000; it's a hefty bill and a headache for Transportation Director Tony Jones.

"Well it is kind of frustrating because now we had to do alternate plans to get the students to school this morning," said Jones.

Buses from other schools in the county carried the students affected by the delay.

"They stole two hours of instructional time from each student, not just the ones that ride the bus, but even the ones whose parents bring them to school," said Jones.

And believe or not, some kids like school. Ealey wakes up at four in the morning every day just to go.

"Kind of messed up because I was looking forward to go to school and hurry up and get there," said Ealey.

This is the second time in a week that a large number of school buses have been vandalized. Authorities say two people let air out of the front tires of 61 school buses in York County last week.

All the buses were fixed and ran their normal afternoon routes.

The $15,000 in estimated damages is just for parts and they have not yet added in the labor costs.

If you have any information in this case, give Crimestoppers a call at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Reported by Jackie Faye

Posted by Bryce Mursch

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