Las Cruces bus drivers demanding AC in school buses

School bus drivers in Las Cruces are asking the state of New Mexico to require air conditioning in all school buses.

Friday, about 15 bus drivers gathered at the intersection of Solano and Main Street as they held signs for passing motorists to see.

The signs had messages about the risks it puts to drivers and students.

Currently, the only Las Cruces Public School buses that have air conditioning are buses that are for students with special needs.

Marcos Torres, President of the Las Cruces Transportation Federation, says the problem began two summers ago when more students started joining a popular summer school program.

Drivers are having to use the buses without any air conditioning and Torres says that’s putting drivers and students in jeopardy, especially in the summer months when temperatures can easily reach more than 100 degrees.

“If something happens to that driver while he’s on route then we’re putting all those children at risk.” Torres said.

It also gets hotter inside the bus than it does outside. Torres says that when temperatures exceeded 100 degrees, the temperature inside the bus reached 117 degrees and that was with all the windows and vents open.

“Two summers ago we had temperatures as high as 117, last summer we had temperatures as high as 115,” Torres said. “So it’s just an accident waiting to happen.”

The Transportation Federation wants state legislators to act.

LCPS board member Maria Flores says the district’s hands are tied.

“We are totally in the negative with transportation right now,” Flores said. “I think we’re in the hole one million dollars because they (Public Education Dept.) keep cutting transportation.”

Torres says if the state doesn’t act, they’ll have to go to the district and ask that school bus service goes by a heat index.

If the temperature inside a bus reaches 104 degrees, the bus doesn’t leave the station and parents will then have to be informed to pick up their children.

Torres believes cost shouldn’t be a factor in keeping students safe.

“I see this as neglect,” Torres said. “We’re supposed to value children, but they don’t vote and make any income, so the reality is that we don’t.”