BPS still short about 180 bus drivers, November data shows

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Earlier this week we shared the stories of parents whose children are getting home hours after school ends, and details of Buffalo Public Schools' contract with First Student, which includes the district’s right to deduct payments or even terminate the contract, for the bus company’s failure to meet obligations, which includes having the required number of buses to take all children to and from school on time.

The contract with First Student states that 640 buses are needed. The district remains about 180 short.

“As two organizations trying to do the best that they can, we would prefer to work together right now than take those steps which could have some unintended consequences,” said Nate Kuzma, general counsel for Buffalo Public Schools.

Kuzma said the district has not taken any legal action against First Student for failing to meet contract requirements, but he says it’s something the district is considering if the transportation company does not make meaningful progress. He did not provide a scope or deadline in which the district would take those steps.

“The last time we met with First Student, we made that point clear to them, that it is an option that is on the table," he said.

Meanwhile, school board member Larry Scott says First Student has made some progress with hiring.

“We’re in a better place than we were last year," he said.

According to November data provided by the district, one to two buses are still late in the morning, impacting less than 50 students. However, five to six buses are still late in the evening, impacting about 400 students.

In September and October, the latest buses were dropping students off at home at 7:30 p.m. in November, it moved up to 6:30 p.m., still hours after school lets out.

And currently only children with transportation are able to participate in afterschool activities.

“That’s an inequity for those children who do not have their own transportation," said Scott.

And afterschool athletic programs are only operating with six buses, when they need 12.

Both Kuzma and Scott say the district is still considering a three bell system in order to take more children to school with fewer drivers.

But Scott says he doesn’t think it should happen in the middle of the school year, a concern shared by a majority of the teachers and many parents.

“I haven’t heard from a single parent that said let’s make this change and make it now," he said.

He said it’s unlikely it would be implemented this school year however, since the proposal says teachers would need to be notified by January 1st to potentially transfer to another school.

“That would create absolute chaos for those teachers and for our students to get a new teacher in the middle of the school year," he said.

"I’d be opposed to anything like that happening."

The transportation conversations are a part of the ongoing negotiations between the district and the Buffalo Teachers Federation.