Mother speaks out on school bus access barrier

AN AISLE barrier installed in a school bus travelling from Inverleigh to Bannockburn has upset a local parent, who wants it removed because she believes it impedes emergency exit access.

Julie Klemke, of Inverleigh, said a plywood barrier appeared on the first day of school this year – reportedly to allow the driver to better supervise students’ behaviour – and after she complained was replaced with a rope barrier, which she believed remained in place.

As the Golden Plains Times went to press, it was understood that the barrier had in fact been moved and no longer affected access. This was not able to be confirmed before print deadline.

Before that development, Ms Klemke argued the barriers made access to side emergency exits difficult.

Ms Klemke said she had raised the issue with the school, Bannockburn P-12 College, arguing it should be removed because it was affecting access to the exits.

“Kids still can’t get full access to the emergency exits – they would still have to jump a seat or a rope to get access to it,” Ms Klemke said.

Ms Klemke has also been angered by her son being banned from travelling on the bus after a verbal confrontation with a driver about the plywood barrier. She said she understood the bus driver had made the decision to install a barrier “so he could supervise them better”.

“He reckons people bang on the windows and they don’t wear their seatbelts,” Ms Klemke said.

“He needed them all up the front of the bus so he could keep a better eye on them.”

She said she had also approached the Department of Education and the bus operator, Trotters Coaches, about the matter but the barrier remained.

The bus starts in Inverleigh and travels to Bannockburn, picking up college students as well as children attending the St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School.

Ms Klemke said her two children were among about 40 students who used the bus.

She said her son had knocked on a window only once. She now drives her children to and from school, and her daughter only takes the bus if there is no other option.

Bannockburn P-12 College principal George Porter said he knew there were occasions when part of the bus was cordoned off to guide students on where to sit.

He said he did not believe the existing barrier impeded emergency exit access, but stressed that the school did not manage the school buses.

Trotters – and several others that take students to and from the school – are contracted to Public Transport Victoria to provide the service, Mr Porter said. “It’s a matter for the bus driver and the bus company to work out,” he said.

“If I had significant safety concerns I would go to the bus company and talk to them about it. I have been in discussions about this and I believe that the matter was resolved quickly at least four or five weeks ago.”

Trotters Coaches was approached for comment.