Update: 8/20 4:45 a.m.
PEKIN, Ill. Pekin Public Schools District 108 is cancelling school and using emergency days to address the transportation challenges they faced on Wednesday. Classes are cancelled for Thursday and Friday.
The district superintendent issued this statement:
Dear District 108 Families, Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we worked through the transportation challenges experienced on the first day of school. After working diligently with Alltown Bus Service throughout the day and this evening, we have determined that the current transportation situation does not meet our expectations for the safe and reliable transportation of our students. Student safety must come first, and we are not willing to compromise on that responsibility. Therefore, District 108 will use two emergency days on Thursday, August 20, and Friday, August 21, 2026. There will be no school for students on these two days. During this time, District 108 will continue working closely with Alltown to correct the transportation issues, verify routes and schedules, and ensure we are prepared to safely resume school on Monday, August 24, 2026.We recognize the inconvenience this decision creates for our families, and we do not make it lightly. However, given the circumstances experienced today, we believe this is the appropriate and necessary decision to protect the safety of our students. We also want to thank our principals, teachers, office staff, and other employees who worked tirelessly today to assist students and families and help make the first day as successful as possible despite these challenges. We know there is still work to do, and we are committed to getting this right. Thank you again for your patience, grace, and partnership as we begin the new school year. Sincerely,Leonard EaleySuperintendent
Superintendent Leonard Ealey, Pekin Public Schools District 108
PEKIN, Ill. – Pekin Public Schools District 108 is addressing transportation problems that left some families without critical bus route information on the first day of the school year Wednesday.
Superintendent Leonard Ealey said in a statement to 25 News that his team worked late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning alongside Alltown Bus Service to finalize route information and get it to families. Despite those efforts, some families did not receive complete and accurate information within the expected timeframe.
Ealey said the district is now reviewing both the transportation issues themselves and how they communicated with families throughout the process to identify areas for improvement going forward.
The transportation hiccup comes after a significant change to how Pekin students get to school. The Pekin City Council voted in June 2025 to exit the school bus business, citing cost savings for taxpayers. City Manager John Dossey noted at the time that bus drivers filing for unemployment over the summer was a financial drain on the city.
The district’s board accepted the Alltown Bus Service bid on February 23, 2026, making this the first school year under the new arrangement.
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