School bus driver urges stronger coordination after repeated infestations and welfare concerns

Mark Sanders, who said his second job is driving a school bus, told the commissioners that bus drivers are "very frustrated with Child Protective Services" after repeatedly transporting children from homes with roach or bed bug infestations. Sanders recounted a case where, after multiple visits, roaches were visible on a ceiling and staff had to put rubber bands around pant legs to keep roaches from crawling up; he said one child had wounds on the face and that some children on his route did not own basic hygiene items.

"No child or adult deserves to live like that," Sanders said, and he asked for a closer working relationship among CPS, the Department of Job and Family Services and local school districts.

County Administrator Jennifer Hutchinson said the county recently passed a resolution establishing partnerships with 10–15 agencies to address situations like those Sanders described and that CPS can provide services such as extermination or hoarding cleanup in certain cases. Hutchinson cautioned that not all poor living conditions meet the statutory threshold for child abuse; she urged reporting of concerns and noted that more evidence makes a stronger case for intervention. Commissioner Rittenhouse and Hutchinson acknowledged the difficulty of child-protection work and the challenges of staff burnout.

Hutchinson said the commission will recognize Child Abuse Awareness Month at an upcoming meeting, when caseworkers and supervisors will be present and available to answer questions about the complaint process.