NYC Parents Seek Better School Bus Service by Reforming Albany Contracts
A contentious three-year extension of school bus contracts with major yellow bus companies has been approved by an education panel in Albany. The decision comes after city officials, parents, and advocates pushed for changes to the contracts that have contributed to the notoriously dysfunctional school bus service, particularly affecting disabled students.
Critics argue that outdated agreements from 1979 are at the root of the problem. These contracts include a provision requiring unionized drivers laid off by one company to be prioritized for hiring by other companies at their existing wages. However, a state court ruling in 2011 deemed this provision unenforceable, finding it would hinder competition.
The lack of progress has led city officials to continue extending old contracts, with parents and advocates expressing frustration over the status quo. In an effort to break the impasse, officials have pledged to push for new legislation that would enshrine existing labor protections for drivers.
Supporters of the extension argue that it provides a temporary solution, allowing officials to buy time to rewrite and rebid contracts that haven't been meaningfully updated in decades. City Comptroller Brad Lander emphasized the importance of collaboration with parents and stakeholders to create a better contracting system.
Representatives from large bus companies, however, have distanced themselves from their previous stance of halting service. Instead, they committed to meeting regularly with parents and sharing information with the education department as part of the three-year extension.
Despite this shift, some critics object to the extension, arguing that it perpetuates a system that undervalues the needs of disabled students. Panel member Faraji Hannah-Jones stated, "This is about the message we send... It tells our most vulnerable students that their time is not valuable, that their safety is negotiable."
The city's schools chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, acknowledged the concerns of families and advocates who opposed the long-term deal. She expressed willingness to revisit the contracts in five years and work with stakeholders to create a better system.
As the battle for better school bus service continues, parents, officials, and advocates will need to work together to reform Albany's contracting process.
A contentious three-year extension of school bus contracts with major yellow bus companies has been approved by an education panel in Albany. The decision comes after city officials, parents, and advocates pushed for changes to the contracts that have contributed to the notoriously dysfunctional school bus service, particularly affecting disabled students.
Critics argue that outdated agreements from 1979 are at the root of the problem. These contracts include a provision requiring unionized drivers laid off by one company to be prioritized for hiring by other companies at their existing wages. However, a state court ruling in 2011 deemed this provision unenforceable, finding it would hinder competition.
The lack of progress has led city officials to continue extending old contracts, with parents and advocates expressing frustration over the status quo. In an effort to break the impasse, officials have pledged to push for new legislation that would enshrine existing labor protections for drivers.
Supporters of the extension argue that it provides a temporary solution, allowing officials to buy time to rewrite and rebid contracts that haven't been meaningfully updated in decades. City Comptroller Brad Lander emphasized the importance of collaboration with parents and stakeholders to create a better contracting system.
Representatives from large bus companies, however, have distanced themselves from their previous stance of halting service. Instead, they committed to meeting regularly with parents and sharing information with the education department as part of the three-year extension.
Despite this shift, some critics object to the extension, arguing that it perpetuates a system that undervalues the needs of disabled students. Panel member Faraji Hannah-Jones stated, "This is about the message we send... It tells our most vulnerable students that their time is not valuable, that their safety is negotiable."
The city's schools chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, acknowledged the concerns of families and advocates who opposed the long-term deal. She expressed willingness to revisit the contracts in five years and work with stakeholders to create a better system.
As the battle for better school bus service continues, parents, officials, and advocates will need to work together to reform Albany's contracting process.
I'm so done with our school buses!!! They're literally the worst! My friend has autism and she gets really anxious when she has to ride the bus alone... it's not safe for her 
. And can you believe they've been using these outdated contracts since 1979?! It's like, what were we even thinking back then? 
. I just hope they actually listen to us parents and advocates who care so much about this issue 
. And ugh, when are they gonna rewrite those contracts?! It's been ages 
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!
. I mean, if the contracts are outdated since 1979, shouldn't we just rewrite them already? It's not like the companies are going to break the bank by updating their contracts. And let's be real, disabled students deserve better safety measures than what we're seeing right now 
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. I'd rather see some real action and progress on this issue than a bunch of empty promises.
I mean, disabled students are already at a disadvantage with this system... it's like their safety and well-being aren't even on the table anymore 
. And yeah, it's crazy that they had to go through a state court ruling just to get rid of that outdated provision... 1979 is, like, ancient history 
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It's not too much to ask, right? I'm all for collaboration and working together, but at the end of the day, someone needs to hold these companies accountable for their actions. 
They're still riding around on those old buses from 1979 
. I mean, come on! Disabled kids deserve more than just "temporary solutions" 
. It's time to update those contracts and put our money where our mouth is 
. The city comptroller is right, collaboration with parents and stakeholders is key 
, but so is taking bold action to make change happen 
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. And what about all those disabled students who are already struggling with this broken system? They deserve better! 
. But seriously, how hard is it to create a fair contracting process that works for everyone? It's time to level up 
.
its about time we see some progress on our school bus service esp for those with disabilities they deserve so much better than what they're getting now 
cant believe the contracts are still from 1979 thats, like, ancient history lol 
but seriously lets work together to create a better system that prioritizes everyone's safety and well-being 
... it was actually pretty cool! Nowadays, the whole experience seems super stressful for parents and especially those with disabled kids 
It's like they're trying to hold onto the past while neglecting the needs of the present 
but like, why did it take 3 yrs 4 sum1 2 figger out dat outdated contracts r da problem? 
. These contracts have been in place since 1979? That's even older than my grandma 
. Can't we just make some changes now? Like, I don’t know, try to negotiate better deals or something? 
It's not rocket science.
. Parents, officials, and advocates need to work together to make the school bus service better for everyone 
. We need to get some new people in Albany who actually care about our kids' education, not just lining their pockets with cash from the bus companies 
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. What does it even mean? Are they just going to pretend to care for a few years before we're back at square one again?