Victory! DOE/PEP to Vote on Limited School Bus Contracts Extensions in November

Victory! DOE/PEP to Vote on Limited School Bus Contracts Extensions in November

New York, NY - New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement commending the Department of Education (DOE) and the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) for stopping the cycle of five-year extensions for the City's school bus contracts. In addition, the school bus companies retreated from their threats to stop school bus service on Monday when their emergency contract extensions ended; all 150,000 school bus riding students will have service through November.

On Tuesday, Comptroller Lander argued for reworking the five-year contract renewals in favor for a limited extension in an op-ed.

"Not being locked into five-year bus contracts is a victory for students, parents, drivers and workers, and New York City- thanks to Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. Because of the collective effort of advocates, the Chancellor, the PEP, the Public Advocate, and my office, these bus contracts will not be renewed for another five years, which would have only padded these bus contractors' bottom lines to the tune of $2 billion a year.

"150,000 students and their parents are better off today, rather than the City being bullied into an outdated, school transportation system with inconsistent service and persistent inequities for students with disabilities and those in temporary housing.

"Along with students, parents, and advocates, I look forward to seeing shorter term contracts with better terms at the November PEP, which will give the next mayoral administration a better path forward toward a bus system with stronger performance metrics, better responsiveness to parents, better wages for drivers, and guaranteed after-school service."

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