Safety concerns lead Lehigh parents to new van transportation trend

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.- Some parents are worried about their child’s safety while waiting for the school bus. In fact, some are so concerned that they’re willing to pay someone else to take their children to and from school.

“I’m not leaving her in a corner pitch black for a bus to come pick up and I don’t know if they picked her up dropped her off the school doesn’t call me. I wouldn’t be able to sleep or live or be at work so I was like this is the best thing that I can do,” said Sharisse Taveras, who uses the van transportation for her daughter.

Taveras is one of many moms in Lehigh and Fort Myers that feel like her child isn’t safe waiting for or riding the school bus; so instead of a bus, her daughter now rides to and from school in a van. It’s a new trend in the area. Even though it’s not a free service, the demand is high.

It all started when another Lehigh mom didn’t want her kids waiting outside for the bus either. She decided to sell her car, drain her savings and buy a 15 passenger van.

“My car was that big van and I just started going everywhere in the van–chuck e cheese–you can find me in the van. And then the parents started calling me,” said company owner, Lisdie Montano.

After a few carpool rides, a small business was born and now the Lehigh mom has nine 15 passenger vans and over 200 clients. It costs parents between $25 and $45 a week. This company is the largest of its kind in the area but it’s become so popular that there are now several other after school transportation companies that have started up as well.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the best thing that ever happened it’s like the ultimate stress free transportation that you can possibly have,” said Taveras.

WINK News asked the Lee County School District what their take on the new trend is–they tell us they don’t support it but if parents want to spend the money instead of utilizing the free school bus then that’s their choice to make.