Parents in Cy-Fair Independent School District are raising alarms after the district cut nearly 80 bus routes, leaving many students to walk or bike to school along busy streets.
The budget-driven decision has not only put children at risk of being struck by vehicles, but some parents are saying it led to violent altercations involving students.
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Among the parents calling for immediate change is Jade Hodges, a mother who tells KPRC 2 her children have been bullied, harassed, and even assaulted on their way to and from school.
With fewer transportation options, Hodges says more students are interacting and creating tension on their walks to school and that’s leading to more frequent altercations both on the way to school and on campus.
BACKGROUND: Cy-Fair ISD reduces some bus routes following budget cuts
“My kids are being terrorized”
Hodges’ three children attend schools within Cy-Fair ISD, and since the bus cuts, she says their daily walk to school has become a nightmare. In an interview, Hodges described how she walks her two middle school children 20 minutes to Harper Middle School after first walking her oldest son to Cypress Springs High School.
“I have to physically make sure they get across the street safely because there is no cross guard,” she explained. “Then I have to walk back home.”
Hodges says the lack of transportation and supervision has led to violent incidents involving her children and other students. Hodges says her children have been attacked and severely injured, with her son suffering a concussion after being stomped on by five other students. Her daughter has also been bullied and harassed at school.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to really run home, literally run home to get home safely and pray that nothing happens in the process of running home,” Hodges said.
A call for more protection
Hodges says she has repeatedly met with school officials and police officers, asking for more to be done to protect her children, but she feels the district’s efforts have fallen short.
“All they can recommend is to put a stay-away agreement for the children that have been bullying my kids. And that’s about it. There’s nothing that they can do,” she said, adding that there is only one officer for the middle school and two for the high school.
Hodges is demanding more police presence and better safety measures for students. She says without proper transportation, the children are left vulnerable to violence.
“I would like for the buses to be back in place because this is ridiculous,” she said. “Twenty minutes walking to school and walking home — that’s not acceptable. My kids are being bullied every day. That’s unacceptable. They don’t even feel safe in school, nor in the neighborhood.”
Hodges also noted that while officers have started patrolling the area, it’s not enough.
“There are five police cars that sit there at the park. They won’t move anywhere else,” she said. “They need to patrol the area from Starbucks all the way through the neighborhood.”
A community in crisis
Hodges is not alone in her concern. Many parents in the district are struggling with the same issues, especially those who, like Hodges, don’t have transportation to drive their children to and from school.
Hodges says she and other parents have tried to coordinate walking groups to ensure the safety of their children, but they say the situation is overwhelming.
“It’s ridiculous. My kids are scared to go to school every day,” Hodges said. “I don’t even want them to go to school because the teachers keep telling me they’re safe, but they’re not doing anything to make sure they are.”
Hodges shared that her daughter was recently suspended for three days after defending herself during a fight with another student who had previously attacked her brother.
“How is that fair? My daughter agreed to the stay-away order. She did her part. The other girl didn’t,” she said, her voice filled with frustration. “But now my daughter is suspended just for defending herself.”
For Hodges, the situation has reached a breaking point. She’s calling on Cy-Fair ISD and local law enforcement to take immediate action before something even more tragic happens.
“These are my children. What if my child ends up dead?” Hodges asked. “None of this will stop until someone is hurt or dead, and my children have suffered enough. I demand help. Not just for me, not just for my children, but for all the children in the community.”
Hodges said she has asked the school district for an emergency transfer for her children but was told that she would have to find her own transportation to the new schools, which she says she cannot afford.
Cy-Fair ISD responds
In a meeting with Cy-Fair ISD, Hodges was told her only option was an emergency transfer to another school. However, she would need to provide transportation, something she currently doesn’t have.
In a statement, Leslie Francis, Assistant Superintendent for Communication & Community Relations at Cy-Fair ISD, said, “Approximately 85,000 of our 118,000 students are eligible for transportation this school year, and approximately 52,000 ride a bus daily. This represents a reduction of 74 routes.”
Francis added that the district is investigating the incidents and is working with law enforcement to ensure student safety.
For parents like Hodges, though, the situation remains dire.
“I demand help, and I demand it now,” she said. “Our kids deserve better.”