TCAP suspends part of its busing

Staff report

WARREN

Trumbull Community Action Program’s Head Start initiative has had to suspend part of its busing as a result of a surprise inspection of buses.

The inspection was made Tuesday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Van Nelson, vice president and chief operating officer of TCAP, said the highway patrol found problems with leaks in the transmission and hoses, a rusted wall in a bus stairwell and warning lights. The problems led to six of TCAP’s 14 buses being removed from the road until they are fixed.

Until then, transportation for some of the 669 children in the program has been suspended, and parents are being notified that they will have to provide their own transportation, Nelson said.

Transportation is suspended for some of the children at the Warren and Girard locations, Nelson said. Head Start also has centers in Niles, Hartford Township, Bristolville, Hubbard, Kinsman and Newton Falls, and their transportation is not affected.

The agency already has repaired two of the six buses and hopes to have the rest ready within about a week.

“We’re not perfect, but we’re going to fix the situation,” Nelson said.

Head Start provides early-childhood education for low-income children age 3, 4 and 5.