Wheels may come off Hub school bus plan
Union describes situation as ‘the worst fiasco we’ve witnessed’
Getting to school in the city won’t be easy.
Boston Public Schools is expecting school bus service disruptions due to a driver shortage leaving some families scrambling, much to the ire of city councilors and union members.
“Routing for the 2021-2022 school year is by far the worst fiasco we’ve witnessed in our careers,” read a press release from the United Steelworkers Local 8751, the Boston school bus drivers’ union.
Union members called for the postponement of the first day of school, which is Thursday, to solve the routing issues that could impact BPS families.
A BPS spokesman said the city and the union reached an agreement Tuesday night to extend their contract until November, providing an encouraging step forward. But service disruptions are still expected, and some parents won’t get a call from the district’s transportation department until the morning of school.
Boston city councilors slammed the district for the lack of organization with bus service, which has been a longstanding issue at BPS.
City Councilor and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell said, “Worrying about whether or not their kids will be stranded on a sidewalk somewhere is no way to begin the school year.”
Annissa Essaibi-George, chair of the City Council’s education committee and a mayoral candidate, is a mother to four BPS students.
She said, “I’m worried about what the first day of school will look like for our educators, kids, and families with the clear disorganization.”
BPS transports about 25,000 students and typically needs between 690 and 720 active drivers. Even with the first day of school arriving, the district said it is still determining the number of drivers needed.
Reporters tried to ask Acting Mayor Kim Janey about the bus fiasco on Wednesday, but she ignored questions and hopped into a car.
Janey spokeswoman Stephanie Garrett-Stearns said, “Well, the first day back to school is always, you know, a complicated one for every family. What I can say is that Mayor Janey is committed to making sure that every BPS student has access to safe transportation on the first day.”
Garrett-Stearns said the “vast majority” of the 3,000 routes have been staffed.
“Those remaining routes are still being worked out. Families at this point have been given their transportation plan. If there are any changes between now and the start of school, those families will be notified,” Garrett-Stearns said.
Janey on Wednesday released a new ad for her mayoral campaign in which she touted, “Kids are back in school.”
City Councilor Michael Flaherty had this to say: “Who was in charge here and how could they let this happen?”