PIST demands end to long bus routes

Parents to Improve School Transportation held a rally at the New York City Department of Education on the morning of Oct. 19. They are outraged that time is being taken away from their children’s education by unrealistic school bus routing, which is especially disruptive for students with special needs.

PIST members rally Oct. 19. Photo: Johnnie Stevens

A letter signed by dozens of parents and supporters was taken to the Schools Chancellor. It denounced the fact that the Office of Pupil Transportation laid off several hundred qualified drivers and escorts at the start of this school year, and then reshuffled the children onto routes that are causing lateness and stress every day for the students, their families, school staff and bus workers.

At the rally participants gave interviews in English and Spanish to the press, and chanted, “O.P.T. — Get our kids to school on time!” and “Bus drivers need jobs, kids need short routes!”

A vice president of the United Federation of Teachers and a state business agent of the Amalgamated Transportation Union, which represents school bus drivers, were present along with other advocates for mass transit and public education.

For more information visit www.pistnyc.org.

The writer is a PIST parent.