North Fort Myers mom fights for safer bus stop for kids near Saint Paul Road

A North Fort Myers mother is calling on Lee County officials to address safety concerns about her kindergartner's bus stop near Saint Paul Road, which is located on a dark gravel road with a shoulder that can fill with water. Amanda Benchina, a single mother, said she has been trying to get the bus stop changed since the first day of school. "I've called. I went to Bayshore the first day of school to add the stop, and I called the school board. I called Lee County Transportation over and over. Nobody will return my call for safety concerns. Nobody. So at this point, that's why I decided to call Gulf Coast News," Benchina said. Benchina described the dangers she faces walking her son to the bus stop in the early morning hours. "It's pitch black. I walk with hunting lights and a construction vest. There are two with me and my son, and we walk towards traffic so I can see them. I try to walk over to the other lane when a vehicle is coming, but sometimes it's not that easy, and I have to hurry up and run a road just to get off the main road," she said. The School District of Lee County explained that parents have two options for requesting a bus stop change. The first option is to submit a request through their child's school, which will verify the information and decide whether to approve or deny the request based on school board policy. If approved, the request is forwarded to the transportation routing department, which ensures it meets district, state, and federal guidelines before informing the school and parents of the decision. The second option is to contact the transportation review committee, which is made up of school district officials who review requests and hear concerns caused by unusual situations or hardships. If parents disagree with the committee's decision, they can contact the assistant director of transportation for their zone. The district emphasized that all bus stops meet or exceed state safety standards. "All of our bus stops meet or exceed state safety standards. We will not use a location to pick up or drop off students unless it meets the state standards. When safety concerns are brought to our attention, we will inspect the stop to ensure the area is still safe," the district said. Benchina said she is determined to secure a safer bus stop for her son. "Because my son or I could get hit, these cars don't care about us. I can't make them stop. And as a single mom, I'm my son's only option," she said. Benchina's initial request for a bus stop change was denied, and she is now reaching out to the transportation review committee. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.