Councilman David G. Greenfield is urging parents to prepare now for the possibility of a strike in the coming days by school bus drivers over a dispute with New York City. In all, 9,000 drivers represented by Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union have threatened to walk off the job this week, leading Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott to warn parents that a strike could occur as early as this Wednesday. This would impact approximately 152,000 public, private and parochial school students in kindergarten through high school, including students who attend yeshivas and 54,000 children who receive special education services, many of whom travel long distances from their home to a school that can properly serve their needs.

Parents should be aware of the following transportation options for their children if a strike is called:

1) Students who currently receive yellow school bus service can receive a MetroCard through their individual school’s general office. In addition, parents of (a) pre-school children or (b) general education children in kindergarten through second grade who require an escort to school or (c) school-age children with Individualized Education Programs who require transportation from their home directly to school can also obtain a MetroCard from their child’s school office to accompany their child to school. MetroCards will be made available once the strike is announced.

2) The DOE is offering reimbursement for some travel costs incurred by parents whose children receive busing directly from their home or for students in kindergarten through 6th grade who live in areas where there is no viable public transportation option available. Parents who drive their children will be reimbursed at a rate of 55 cents per mile, and parents who use a car service will be reimbursed for the cost of the trip upon completion of reimbursement forms and submission of a receipt. Reimbursement forms are available at each school’s general office and should be mailed along with all car service receipts to the Transportation Reimbursement Unit at 44-36 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City, New York 11101 on a weekly basis until the strike ends.

Students who arrive to public school late because of transit disruptions will be excused for up to two hours, and children who are absent because of the bus drivers strike will be marked absent with an explanation code that will ensure their attendance record is not negatively impacted. The DOE has informed the MTA that it may need to be prepared to accommodate additional riders in the case of a strike and has arranged for additional school crossing guards at busy intersections. In addition, Councilman Greenfield is urging neighbors to carpool whenever possible to reduce the impact and disruptions to the community and students caused by a strike.

“Parents must be prepared for the possibility of a strike this week. I am urging parents to plan now so that their child’s education does not suffer as a result of a work stoppage. At the same time, I am calling on the city and the union to continue round-the-clock negotiations to prevent a strike from occurring,” said Councilman Greenfield.

With the strong likelihood of a strike this week and Local 1181 only promising 24 hours’ notice before walking off the job, Councilman Greenfield is urging parents to make contingency plans now to prevent major inconveniences should the work stoppage occur. At the same time, he is calling on the Department of Education and New York City to continue negotiations in hopes of avoiding a strike. Any parents with issues receiving MetroCards or travel reimbursements after the strike starts should immediately contact Councilman Greenfield’s office at (718) 853-2704 for assistance.

(YWN Desk – NYC)