Van drivers urge Akron Public Schools to restore Templeton routes as parents report missed and late rides

Dozens of current and former Akron van drivers and a Templeton Transportation representative told the Akron Public Schools board on Aug. 25 that routes originally assigned to Templeton were taken back by the district and reassigned to Buckeye Logistics, leaving at least 50 Templeton drivers without work and some students without timely service.

The testimony came during the public comment portion of the board meeting and included multiple drivers who said Templeton had been awarded routes, trained drivers and prepared vehicles, only to have assignments revoked days or weeks later. Alan Beers, who read a prepared statement on behalf of owner Dara Templeton, said Templeton transported more than 300 students last year with 42 drivers and that the company’s goal was to preserve local drivers’ jobs. "We respectfully ask that you allow us to continue serving Akron students because doing so best supports their stability and success," Beers said.

Why this matters: Several commenters said the reassignment has disrupted service for students with individualized education programs (IEPs) and other students who rely on consistent drivers. Multiple speakers said children were arriving at school up to 45 minutes late and that some students had…