Growing number of homeless Salem students poses transportation challenges

Bus driver John Svendsen stands outside the white van he drives. His four-hour route transports six homeless students from schools in Dallas, Monmouth and Independence to Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

John Svendsen’s bus route is unusually quiet.

The veteran Salem-Keizer School District driver starts his afternoon route at the main bus lot on Hawthorne Road, then drives across the bridge to west Salem. He leaves town on Highway 22, continuing west past a golf course…