WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Williamsburg James City County Schools' Superintendent Olwen Herron fielded questions in a town hall meeting Monday night from concerned parents. The meeting was hosted by the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP branch.
Concerns ranging from school safety, school construction to school transportation were raised. Some parents are angry over the elimination of some bus routes putting their children into non-transportation zones.
"We're just simply asking for transportation justice. That's what any school ought to be able to give to our children is transportation justice," said parent Reginald Davis, who raised concerns about whether budget constraints led to the changes.
RELATED: Parents push back against non-transportation zones in Williamsburg-James City County schools
The non-transportation zones mean some elementary students have to walk down streets parents feel are too busy.
"We didn't cut the budget. We just can't find the drivers. That's one thing, that's not an excuse, that's just a reality," Herron explained.
On school safety, Herron said it's an issue that keeps her up at night. "I think every time there is violence in another school division either close by or across the nation, everybody gets anxious. Teachers get anxious, communities get anxious."
Following a threat assessment study, Herron says many safety improvements have been done including film placed on windows to keep people from seeing inside buildings, cameras in every building and there are plans for additional fencing.
The NAACP plans to have another town hall Thursday featuring the York County superintendent.