Via Townhall:
New York City Schools Spend $6,900 Per Student – on Bus Transportation!
Government schools are an expensive endeavor, especially when union labor and no-bid contracts are involved.
The New York City Department of Education has been catching heat from transportation unions lately over a decision to solicit bids for private transportation services in an effort to curtail runaway costs.
The district has not sought “significant” bids for student transportation services in 33 years. That means it’s probably been using the same companies for years, without competitive bids to naturally control rising costs.
And those costs are increased every year because the companies use high-paid union drivers.
and via New York Daily News today:
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott is warning parents that a school bus strike is inevitable.
It’s “not now a matter of if, but a matter of when,” Walcott said Sunday.
Union members are infuriated at the city for refusing to guarantee their jobs as it seeks new bus service providers. The union said a strike is likely to begin Wednesday.
Walcott said the city is prepared with Metrocards and reimbursement plans for parents getting their kids to school. Still, he admitted, some chaos is still expected the first day of a strike.
“They are using our students as pawns, he said. “This is a strike against our children.”