By Howard Packowitz and WMBD-TV

NORMAL – Unit 5 is expressing confidence in the company running the school district’s transportation system despite complaints from parents about the service, and the resignation of the person whose job it was to make sure kids get to school and return home on time.

The situation is a reminder of a transportation fiasco that happened in the fall of 2016, when buses were overcrowded and late, the company didn’t have enough drivers, and their routes were too complicated.

Unit 5 spokesperson Dayna Brown told our news partner, WMBD-TV, that First Student location manager Mark Bohl has resigned.

According to Brown, Unit 5 remains confident student transportation will continue seamlessly as the company recruits and hires Bohl’s replacement.

Brown said other people will temporarily handle Bohl’s responsibilities.

Some parents have taken to social media complaining their children have experienced pick-up and drop-off delays for about the past week.

Last year, Unit 5 rewarded First Student with a two-year contract extension after the company fixed the problems.

Bohl was First Student’s most visible representative, providing frequent progress reports to the school board.

First Student assigned Bohl to work with Unit 5 in October 2016.

First Student declined a request for comment.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]