New Yorkers Frustrated with School Bus Service Seek State Intervention as Contract Extension Set to End.
As the city's school bus system continues to face criticism for its inadequate service to disabled students, parents are now turning their attention to Albany in hopes of finding a solution. The recent approval of a three-year contract extension with major yellow bus companies has left many feeling that not enough is being done to address the long-standing issues.
The contracts, which were initially negotiated in 1979, include provisions that prioritize unionized drivers who have been laid off by one company, but these protections are no longer in place due to a court ruling in 2011. This ruling found that such provisions cannot be included in new contracts, and has led to the city extending old agreements despite protests from parents.
According to education panel members, the root of the problem lies in outdated contracts that have not been meaningfully updated in decades. These agreements are said to be at the center of the school bus service's notorious inefficiencies, which disproportionately affect disabled students.
The recent approval of a three-year extension has sparked outrage among some panel members and parents, who argue that it sends the wrong message about the value and safety of students with disabilities. "This is about the message we send," said one panel member. "What does this system tell our most vulnerable students? It tells them that their time is not valuable, that their safety is negotiable."
Despite the concerns, city officials say they are committed to finding a solution. Comptroller Brad Lander promised a full-court press on legislation aimed at protecting bus drivers' labor rights and improving the service.
The extension of old contracts has been met with criticism from representatives of major bus companies, who claim that they are willing to work with parents and the city to improve the service. However, some parents remain skeptical about the intentions of the company, despite their commitment to meet regularly with parents and share information with the education department.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: New York City's school bus system will require significant changes if it hopes to become a reliable and safe option for students.
As the city's school bus system continues to face criticism for its inadequate service to disabled students, parents are now turning their attention to Albany in hopes of finding a solution. The recent approval of a three-year contract extension with major yellow bus companies has left many feeling that not enough is being done to address the long-standing issues.
The contracts, which were initially negotiated in 1979, include provisions that prioritize unionized drivers who have been laid off by one company, but these protections are no longer in place due to a court ruling in 2011. This ruling found that such provisions cannot be included in new contracts, and has led to the city extending old agreements despite protests from parents.
According to education panel members, the root of the problem lies in outdated contracts that have not been meaningfully updated in decades. These agreements are said to be at the center of the school bus service's notorious inefficiencies, which disproportionately affect disabled students.
The recent approval of a three-year extension has sparked outrage among some panel members and parents, who argue that it sends the wrong message about the value and safety of students with disabilities. "This is about the message we send," said one panel member. "What does this system tell our most vulnerable students? It tells them that their time is not valuable, that their safety is negotiable."
Despite the concerns, city officials say they are committed to finding a solution. Comptroller Brad Lander promised a full-court press on legislation aimed at protecting bus drivers' labor rights and improving the service.
The extension of old contracts has been met with criticism from representatives of major bus companies, who claim that they are willing to work with parents and the city to improve the service. However, some parents remain skeptical about the intentions of the company, despite their commitment to meet regularly with parents and share information with the education department.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: New York City's school bus system will require significant changes if it hopes to become a reliable and safe option for students.
I'm so done with this whole school bus debacle in NYC! It's like they're still riding on the old contracts from 1979 
. Like, what's next? Renovating the Pyramids of Giza? 
. I mean, come on, disabled students deserve equal access to quality education too! It's not like they're asking for a luxury vacation or something 
.
. No more extension of old contracts, no more excuses 
. We need legislation that prioritizes student safety and accessibility, period 
.
until their bottom line is at stake 
. It's time to hold them accountable and show the kids that their education matters 
.
. I mean, I get it, workers need to be protected, but come on! The system's already failing our most vulnerable kids, and now we're extending these contracts that aren't even addressing the real issues 
. I need to see some concrete changes happen ASAP 
. We can't just keep shuffling our problems around, we gotta fix them once and for all 
. It's time for someone with actual power to step up and make these changes happen 
. These contracts are like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound 
. We need to be addressing the root causes, not just patching over the symptoms 
. And what really gets my goat is that these companies are just gonna keep profiting off our kids' suffering while we're stuck in limbo 
. These old contracts just aren't working out, especially with all the new laws protecting bus drivers' rights. I think we need to modernize this system ASAP so that everyone can feel safe and supported 
. I'd love to see more transparency from the city and these bus companies too - it's not fair to parents who are already stressed out about their kids' education 
. Maybe if we work together, we can create a better system for everyone 
.
I can see why parents are getting angry - their kids deserve better 
. Disabled students are already at a disadvantage, and then you tell them their safety isn't even worth fighting for? 
Not cool.
.
. I mean, if they're really committed to making a change, then show us! Don't just promise to meet regularly and pretend like everything is fine 
. The parents need to see some real action happening here 
.
I'm so frustrated by this whole thing! The fact that we're still using contracts from 1979 is just insane 
.
. We need real changes, not just some PR spin to make everyone feel good 
. The city needs to take a hard look at what's going wrong and figure out a way to fix it once and for all 
.
. Maybe we can look into some innovative programs that would increase accessibility and safety on the buses? That way, both parents and bus companies have something to gain. Let's not forget that these kids deserve the best education possible, and that includes safe transportation.
. We need legislation that prioritizes student safety and accessibility above all else. Anything less would be unfair to our kids.
. It's crazy that the city is just extending old agreements without making any meaningful updates. The fact that they can't even get the bus service right for disabled kids is a huge problem 
. I mean, what's the point of having laws and regulations if we're not going to enforce them? 
.
I'm so tired of these outdated contracts. It's like the city is just dragging its feet on making things right for our kids. And don't even get me started on how messed up the system is for disabled students 
omg ppl r so frustrated wth dis new york city school bus contract 4real!!! its like they dont care about da kids w/ disabilities 
they need better services & safety measures or else its just not worth it 1st of all we gotta get rid of dem old contracts thats been in effect since like 1979 lol thats crazy! 
. I hope Comptroller Lander's push for legislation actually makes a difference 
.