So my daughter is 8 and just started third grade this week. This is the first year she is riding the school bus. I changed her schools because her last school was unsatisfactory. This school is further away and with my work schedule, she needs to ride the bus.

I know there is a shortage of bus drivers and they are doing their best. I understand there are delays and drivers are taking on multiple routes. I got my daughter a kid safe phone with GPS, no browser, and approved contacts only. That way I can track where she is and she can contact me in an emergency.

I noticed in the morning that she was on the bus for 1.5 hours before she arrived at school. I also noticed the bus stopping at different schools all in my area. I asked her about her bus ride to school. She said that she was on the bus for a long time until there was just her and one other kid. The driver asked what school she went to and then drove her to school. This sounds to me that she missed her stop and the driver had to take her back. I don't think she realized when she was at her school and didn't know when to get off. But I also do not know the bus route. It's possible that she is just one of the last stops. Maybe the driver had three schools left on his route and two kids, so asked so he didn't go to a school for no reason.

Today I tried to track the bus more closely but I couldn't watch it the entire time. I noticed the bus getting closer to her school. The next time I checked, it was getting further away. Then 15 minutes later she was at school. She got to school right before 8:30 like yesterday. It's possible the bus was picking up other children and so didn't go directly to her school. But I suspect she missed her stop again.

Her first day of school I dropped her off in the morning and she rode the bus home, so this was before there was an issue in the morning. She left her phone on the bus and I had to contact the school transportation department. I was on hold for 2 hours before I got a hold of someone. They are very busy. If it weren't for this, I would just call them again and ask about her route. But she is making it to school and on time (but barely). I could be wrong, maybe she is getting off when she is supposed to. And if my suspicions are true, I feel like the driver would eventually notice a pattern and learn to make sure she is getting off the bus at the right time so he doesn't have to turn around.

I'm considering questioning the driver when he drops her off this afternoon. But I don't want to delay the bus. Plus, I don't know if she's actually missing her stop. I don't want to cause confusion. I know the driver is just trying to smoothly get kids home safely and doesn't have time to stop and talk to parents.

What should I do?