Parents forego bus service; kids taken to school by several vans
Lisdie Montano
With school hours for opening and closing all at different hours, there are concerns felt by many Lehigh parents who don’t like leaving their children at isolated bus stops or at stops with older children. There are parents who don’t like for their children to stand in the dark waiting for a bus. Some are afraid of traffic accidents and other concerns.
Lisdie Montano of Lehigh Acres tells the parents of the children she and her drivers take to school that the parents should not worry.
“The kids don’t have to wait in the dark or on dangerous bus stops or on dangerous streets,” she said.
Starting off with one van, today she has several and she has several families who depend on her and her employees to take their children to school.
“We came from Cuba to Miami in 2001 and in December of 2004, we decided to move to Lehigh Acres where we bought our first home.
“When my son was about to start kindergarten, I was terrified because I did not want him having to wait alone on a corner for the bus, but I also had to work and provide for my family and could not sit there in a car,” said Montano.
What happened next was an idea and Montano pursued it.
“I saw the need for a door-to-door service and that is when I sold my ford Expedition, drained all of the money in my accounts and bought a 15-passenger van.
“It was a leap of faith that I took and the very first step to a very successful road. I bought a 2002 high top 15-passenger Ford Econoline,” Montano said.
The bus transport business started when school opened in August of 2012 with a total of one student “counting my own son.”
Montano said her family began advertising, handing out flyers and talking to schools and by September of 2012, they were transporting 15 students from Veterans Park Academy for the Arts and for Lehigh Acres Elementary School.
“We were fortunate, the business grew and I also started doing Lehigh Senior High, Lehigh Middle and Harns Marsh Elementary School.
“On December of that same year, I bought my second van, a 2001 eight-passenger van and my sister, Sulye Cruz started driving it and picking up students.
“This would be the first van to enter Gateway Elementary School with only two students from Lehigh,” Montana said.
“My sister always tells the story of how she felt when she had to turn in her two tags. This past September I showed her all our tags and all I could see was joy and happiness on her face.
“These two vans will finish off my first year on the door-to-door transportation business.
She said that by the end of the year, they had a total of 42 students among both vans on Lehigh Middle School, Lehigh Elementary, Veterans and Harns Marsh and Gateway Elementary.
“In August of 2013, we had sold the 2001 Ford Econoline and the 8-passenger Castro van and bought a 2001 Chevrolet Express and a 2006 blue Ford Econoline – both 15-passenger vans,” she said.
It was their second year of business and they started the year with 63 students. The business rapidly grew.
“We had to buy two more vans that will be driven later by my mother and father,” Montano said.
By the end of 2014, they had 85 students being to and from different schools.
“And it was the first year volunteering our vans to transport students to and from tutoring on Saturdays and at no charge to the parents,” Montano said.
By August of 2014, Montano said they started the year with seven vans and 153 students.
“At the moment when the kids returned to school this week after holiday and winter break, we had 201 students and nine vans.
“We currently service all areas of Lehigh Acres and now some of Fort Myers as those students who come to Lehigh schools.
“By next year we plan to expand and cover all of Lehigh Acres’ schools and continue to service students in the Fort Myers area who attend our schools,” Montano said.
Parents pay depending on the number of students at one household and the distance from school.
“Our rates are anywhere from $25 per student per week to $45 per student per week,” she said.
The student transport business is family owned and operated.
“We are proud to be Lehigh Acres citizens and hope to bring peace of mind to all the parents out there. They can rest assured that our main priority is the safety and well-being of our precious cargo,” Montano said.
The children love the vans and the drivers and Montano said they always try to please the kids.
“On many Fridays you can find me buying pizzas or other goodies for the kids, all at no extra charge. I’m very proud of my job,” said Montano who is known to the students as “Miss Lisdie.”
“Every time they see me at different places in Lehigh, these kids come up and hug me. And I know every parent personally as well.
“I love what I do and I bring joy to the parents,” she said. All the vans are properly insured and licensed.
“Currently our drivers are getting CPR certified to be ready in case of an emergency on any of the vans.
“We always appreciate the community for all their help and support and I am always free to speak to anyone who wishes to reach me. We can be found on Facebook and through Google,” she said. Montano can be reached at 239-645-2849.
Some of the parents were asked about the service being provided by Montano and her drivers.
Dennise Torres said she gives the vans “five stars.”
“It is the best of the best; my child comes home safe and sound,” she said.
Elizabeth Michel added that there are no worries for her kids.
“She is the best – Lisdie Montano – and I think her for her love for safety for our kids.”
Parents forego bus service; kids taken to school by several vans
Lisdie Montano
With school hours for opening and closing all at different hours, there are concerns felt by many Lehigh parents who don’t like leaving their children at isolated bus stops or at stops with older children. There are parents who don’t like for their children to stand in the dark waiting for a bus. Some are afraid of traffic accidents and other concerns.
Lisdie Montano of Lehigh Acres tells the parents of the children she and her drivers take to school that the parents should not worry.
“The kids don’t have to wait in the dark or on dangerous bus stops or on dangerous streets,” she said.
Starting off with one van, today she has several and she has several families who depend on her and her employees to take their children to school.
“We came from Cuba to Miami in 2001 and in December of 2004, we decided to move to Lehigh Acres where we bought our first home.
“When my son was about to start kindergarten, I was terrified because I did not want him having to wait alone on a corner for the bus, but I also had to work and provide for my family and could not sit there in a car,” said Montano.
What happened next was an idea and Montano pursued it.
“I saw the need for a door-to-door service and that is when I sold my ford Expedition, drained all of the money in my accounts and bought a 15-passenger van.
“It was a leap of faith that I took and the very first step to a very successful road. I bought a 2002 high top 15-passenger Ford Econoline,” Montano said.
The bus transport business started when school opened in August of 2012 with a total of one student “counting my own son.”
Montano said her family began advertising, handing out flyers and talking to schools and by September of 2012, they were transporting 15 students from Veterans Park Academy for the Arts and for Lehigh Acres Elementary School.
“We were fortunate, the business grew and I also started doing Lehigh Senior High, Lehigh Middle and Harns Marsh Elementary School.
“On December of that same year, I bought my second van, a 2001 eight-passenger van and my sister, Sulye Cruz started driving it and picking up students.
“This would be the first van to enter Gateway Elementary School with only two students from Lehigh,” Montana said.
“My sister always tells the story of how she felt when she had to turn in her two tags. This past September I showed her all our tags and all I could see was joy and happiness on her face.
“These two vans will finish off my first year on the door-to-door transportation business.
She said that by the end of the year, they had a total of 42 students among both vans on Lehigh Middle School, Lehigh Elementary, Veterans and Harns Marsh and Gateway Elementary.
“In August of 2013, we had sold the 2001 Ford Econoline and the 8-passenger Castro van and bought a 2001 Chevrolet Express and a 2006 blue Ford Econoline – both 15-passenger vans,” she said.
It was their second year of business and they started the year with 63 students. The business rapidly grew.
“We had to buy two more vans that will be driven later by my mother and father,” Montano said.
By the end of 2014, they had 85 students being to and from different schools.
“And it was the first year volunteering our vans to transport students to and from tutoring on Saturdays and at no charge to the parents,” Montano said.
By August of 2014, Montano said they started the year with seven vans and 153 students.
“At the moment when the kids returned to school this week after holiday and winter break, we had 201 students and nine vans.
“We currently service all areas of Lehigh Acres and now some of Fort Myers as those students who come to Lehigh schools.
“By next year we plan to expand and cover all of Lehigh Acres’ schools and continue to service students in the Fort Myers area who attend our schools,” Montano said.
Parents pay depending on the number of students at one household and the distance from school.
“Our rates are anywhere from $25 per student per week to $45 per student per week,” she said.
The student transport business is family owned and operated.
“We are proud to be Lehigh Acres citizens and hope to bring peace of mind to all the parents out there. They can rest assured that our main priority is the safety and well-being of our precious cargo,” Montano said.
The children love the vans and the drivers and Montano said they always try to please the kids.
“On many Fridays you can find me buying pizzas or other goodies for the kids, all at no extra charge. I’m very proud of my job,” said Montano who is known to the students as “Miss Lisdie.”
“Every time they see me at different places in Lehigh, these kids come up and hug me. And I know every parent personally as well.
“I love what I do and I bring joy to the parents,” she said. All the vans are properly insured and licensed.
“Currently our drivers are getting CPR certified to be ready in case of an emergency on any of the vans.
“We always appreciate the community for all their help and support and I am always free to speak to anyone who wishes to reach me. We can be found on Facebook and through Google,” she said. Montano can be reached at 239-645-2849.
Some of the parents were asked about the service being provided by Montano and her drivers.
Dennise Torres said she gives the vans “five stars.”
“It is the best of the best; my child comes home safe and sound,” she said.
Elizabeth Michel added that there are no worries for her kids.
“She is the best – Lisdie Montano – and I think her for her love for safety for our kids.”
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