About 100 TN Tatem Middle School students did not make it to school for the first day of term yesterday after bus drivers withdrew their services for a second day.

Principal Francine McMahon responded by asking parents today to help to transport children to Clearwater Middle School in St David’s, where they are temporarily relocated because of complaints about air quality at TN Tatem.

Bus drivers have refused to operate while the People’s Campaign opposes the Bermuda Government’s refusal to renew the work permit of the Reverend Nicholas Tweed. Middle school, primary school and preschool students were due to start back at school yesterday but classes were hit by widespread absenteeism.

Ms McMahon wrote to parents: “As you may be aware by now, public transportation is not operating. “Our students have had so many disruptions to their learning and we would hate for further interruptions to occur.

“As we are located at Clearwater Middle School, transportation is necessary. Today we were short of approximately 100 students.

“Apparently, there are talks taking place at PTB [Public Transportation Board] in reference to resuming services. In the event that this does not happen, are there any parents who will be willing and able to carpool in transporting students to and from Clearwater Middle School from Tatem?”

David Minors, parent of a TN Tatem student who did manage to get to school, told The Royal Gazette earlier yesterday: “Most people will know from the previous bus schedule that there were two Department of Transportation buses that had assisted in providing transportation to TN Tatem students to get to Clearwater.

“Since there are no buses running, those two buses did not get to TN Tatem to get students to Clearwater.”

The Department of Education has confirmed that two minibuses will be made available to transport students as of 7.30am today.