CHULA VISTA, Calif. - A South Bay father is unhappy with the Sweetwater Union High School District's bus pass system, which he said is preventing his son from riding the bus to school.
Rigo Rodriguez said the district won't issue a bus pass for his son, Nolan. However, his daughter Sienna is able to ride a bus to the school they both attend, Olympian High School in Chula Vista.
"My daughter is on the bus, but my son is not; it just doesn't make sense," said Rodriguez.
He said he applied to get a bus pass for his son in July, but the school district told denied him.
"My son is a freshman and they said no, they're not taking any freshman," said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said the district told him they didn't have enough space.
"There's plenty of seats, but the transportation department at the Sweetwater Union High School [District] is telling me the buses are at full capacity," Rodriguez added.
Sienna took a picture while she was on her bus that showed open seats.
"She says there's plenty of room in the morning; some kids sit in one whole section and they lay their feet out," Rodriguez said.
Right now, Rodriguez and his wife make separate trips to drop off and pick up their son. For the family, it's an extra 20 miles every day. They said attempts to talk to the district's transportation department have been ignored.
"I feel their process is flawed," he said.
10News reached out to the school district and they said they give out bus passes based on availability. They are now working with the Rodriguez family to resolve the matter.
