Extreme heat forces L.C. schools to cancel bus service, impacting hundreds of students

Extreme temperatures on Monday forced Las Cruces Public Schools to cancel the afternoon bus service, which officials estimate impacted more than 650 students.

“I think that the kids are vulnerable to these extreme temperatures,” said Jessica Pochynok, who has a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old. She joined hundreds of parents who lined up to pick up their children from school.

There is no state or federal law that requires school buses to have air conditioning. Of the 134 buses that serve Las Cruces students, the vast majority do not have it.

“It simply gets too hot in those buses for children to be safe,” said Marcos Torres, president of the Las Cruces Transportation Federation. “If we’re doing something that’s putting kids in danger, again, I see that as neglect.”

Deputy Superintendent Gabe Jacquez said the funds for air conditioning must come from the state.

“We’re doing the best that we can with what we have, but we’re hopefully looking forward to the future to possibly get some air conditioning for our students,” Jacquez said.

“We live in the middle of the desert, so I would think that they would have air conditioning in the buses,” said Amanda Escarcega, antoher mother. “They say not to leave your kids in the car, but we don’t have air conditioning in the buses?”

The students impacted on Monday were kindergartners, first graders, second graders and third graders getting an early start on the fall semester.

Torres said local legislators must push for funding to help southern New Mexico school buses get air conditioning.

“If drivers are at risk, students are definitely at risk,” Torres said.