The first two days back to class for New York City public school students kicked off with a mess of school bus troubles, and union strife exacerbating the issues lingered as crucial negotiations continue.
Buses on Thursday and Friday did not come on time or didn’t show at all and some parents were left in the dark as to what time to expect them, waiting outside as early as 6 a.m. to make sure they didn’t miss it.
“Every year I end up taking [my son] late to school on the first day,” lamented Heather Dailey, a Queens mom of a sixth-grader. “It’s like an awful tradition.”
Others found out through the city’s school bus delay website that their bus had mechanical issues or gotten a flat tire and took to groups like Parents to Improve School Transportation to air their grievances.
Over 380 delays were reported through the site on Friday. On Thursday, there were nearly 600.
Michael Benjamin, a New York Post editor and dad of two, found out on Wednesday that his sons were scheduled to be on two different buses — to the same school.
After getting that resolved, the bus showed up 45 minutes early and waited half an hour for Benjamin’s kids to hurry out the door.
At the end of the day, the bus to pick them up was an hour late. The bus coordinator, the company and the attendant were all unresponsive, said Benjamin.
“This isn’t rocket science,” he said. “But it involves the DOE’s notoriously dysfunctional Office of Pupil Transportation. Parents and kids aren’t getting much bang for our $1.5 billion investment in pupil transportation.”
To make matters worse, a national school bus driver shortage drags on and a drivers strike looms, despite being postponed to not impede with the start of school.
Schools Chancellor David Banks on Wednesday warned of “disruptions and delays” on the first day of class because of ongoing labor strife involving the Amalgamated Transit Union 1181, which represents more than 8,000 drivers.
The union is continuing to push for a “fair contract” and is still negotiating with bus companies and the city.
Mayor Adams met with ATU president John Costa and Local 1181 leaders on Thursday to discuss the shortage and possible strike.
“While the Local remains hopeful, our Union is prepared to take the necessary action that will achieve a contract that recognizes the significant role our school bus workers play in their communities,” the ATU wrote in a Facebook post.
The Mayor’s Office, the Department of Education and the union did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Post.
