NYC avoids school bus shutdown with last-minute deal to keep service running

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Kirby's Pengui

Last-Minute Deal Saves NYC School Bus Service, Avoiding Disruption for Thousands of Students

A last-minute agreement reached by city officials and major bus companies will keep New York City's school buses running next week, averting a potentially chaotic disruption that could have affected hundreds of thousands of students. The deal comes just one day before contracts were set to expire, leaving parents scrambling to make alternative arrangements.

The dispute centered on decades-old contracts that many parents say perpetuate a dysfunctional system, with issues including inconsistent service, no-show buses, and delays. Parents with children who rely on bus services for their disabilities or live in shelters had already begun making backup plans before the deal was reached.

According to Rich Bamberger, spokesperson for the lawyers negotiating for some of the largest bus companies, the group will sign a temporary extension to maintain service while pushing for longer-term contracts with improved accountability measures. "In the end, this is about the children and our employees," he said. "Buses will be running Monday."

Gregory Faulkner, chair of the Panel for Educational Policy, hailed the decision as a victory for the city's most vulnerable students. The panel will consider a longer extension spanning two to three years next month.

The deal was reached after smaller companies filled out paperwork saying they would continue service, while the largest companies remained holdouts until late Thursday night. Now, advocates hope the temporary arrangement will lay the groundwork for stronger contracts that address the underlying issues plaguing the system.

The city's Department of Education announced that yellow bus service will run as usual on Monday, after vendors agreed to continue service and avoid disruption for the city's most vulnerable students. Mayor Adams has been praised for his commitment to ensuring public school students can safely get to and from schools.

As the city moves forward, parents and advocates say they remain hopeful that a new era of improved bus services will begin soon. For now, the temporary deal provides a lifeline for thousands of students who rely on the buses every day.
 
I'm glad this happened just in time, it's crazy to think those kids were gonna be stuck scrambling for transportation 🚌😬. It's not fair that parents have been dealing with all these issues and it's good someone stepped in to help out. I don't know about the contracts but at least the buses will keep running so the kiddos can get to school safely 💕. If this deal works, maybe we'll see some changes for the better down the line 🤞
 
man... i'm so relieved about this news 🙌. can't even imagine how chaotic it would've been if those schools shut down due to no bus service 😱. all those kids counting on that bus ride, especially the ones with disabilities or from shelters, they need stability and consistency. kudos to mayor adams for stepping in and making sure everyone's safe 🙏. this temp deal might not be perfect, but it's a good start 💪. fingers crossed we see some real changes soon...
 
just when u think its all gone 🤦‍♀️, nyc schools come together to save their bus service lol! i mean seriously though, gotta give props to mayor adams and whoever else worked behind the scenes to get this deal done 💼. it's not perfect, but at least the kids who rely on those buses are gonna be okay 🚌🙏. now let's hope they can negotiate some real changes for next year... fingers crossed! 👍
 
I'm so relieved 😌 that those school buses are gonna be running again next week! I mean, can you imagine all those kids stuck at home or having to scramble with their parents for alternative transportation? It's like, a nightmare come true 🤯... but seriously, it's huge that the city was able to work out a deal with the bus companies. It's about time we see some real change around here, especially when it comes to our most vulnerable students 💖

[link to NYC Department of Education website](https://www1.nyc.gov/site/deed/index.page)

I'm just glad that parents who rely on these services for their kids' disabilities or live in shelters are getting the help they need. It's heartbreaking when you think about all those families who would've been affected by this breakdown 🤕... but it's also a testament to how far our city can come when we work together towards a common goal 💪
 
Man, this is crazy... last minute deal saves school bus service in NYC 🚌🙌. I mean, can you even imagine the chaos if they didn't come to an agreement? Hundreds of thousands of kids would've been left without a way to get to school 👦🏽📚. But now, buses will be running and that's all that matters 💯. I'm glad Mayor Adams is looking out for those vulnerable students 🌟. It's about time we saw some progress on fixing this broken system 🔄. Now, let's keep the momentum going and hope they can get those longer-term contracts sorted out soon ⏱️.
 
I'm glad they were able to reach a last-minute deal, it's a win-win for both the city and the bus companies 🙌. I think it's great that the city is prioritizing the needs of vulnerable students, it's not always easy to balance competing interests but in this case, I think it was worth it 💕. The fact that smaller companies stepped up to continue service when the bigger ones were holding out shows that there are still people who care about making a difference 🙏. Now, I know some folks might say the contracts need to be overhauled, and I'm all for that too 👍. But at least this temporary deal means thousands of students won't have to worry about how they'll get to school next week 😌.
 
I'm so relieved 🙌 that the NYC school bus service is going to keep running! It's crazy how these contract disputes can affect people's lives, especially for kids with disabilities or those living in shelters - they need reliable transportation just like everyone else 🚌. I mean, what's up with these old contracts? It feels like they're stuck in the past and not addressing the real issues 🤔. The fact that some companies were willing to step up and fill the gap is awesome 👏, but we need stronger accountability measures too 💪. Mayor Adams has been on point about prioritizing public school students' safety, so let's keep him doing what he's doing 👍. For now, this temporary deal gives thousands of kids a sigh of relief 😌, but it's time to work towards making our bus system more efficient and reliable in the long run 💡.
 
man I'm so relieved this deal happened or it would've been a total nightmare 🙏 for all those families with kids relying on that service. decades-old contracts just ain't cuttin' it anymore, you feel? gotta give props to mayor Adams for comin' through and makin' sure those kids can get where they need to go safely ⚡️. now let's hope this temporary fix turns into a real game-changer for the system 🤞
 
OMG I'M SO RELIEVED!!! 🙌 this last-minute deal is literally saving the day for all those kids who depend on the school buses!! i mean, it's crazy that it had to come down to the wire but thankfully the city officials and bus companies were able to come to an agreement. i feel bad for the parents who already had to scramble to make alternative arrangements, though 🤕. it's not like this is the first time we've seen issues with the school bus service... i remember my little cousin in elementary school was always complaining about the buses being late or showing up empty 🚫. but at least now we have a temporary solution that'll get us through until next month when the panel can consider longer-term contracts with better accountability measures 🤞.
 
🚓😊 Man, I'm really glad to hear that NYC's school bus service is getting an extension! I mean, can you imagine if all those kids had to find alternative ways to get to school? It would be a total nightmare for families with disabilities or shelters 🤯. And let's be real, the thought of parents scrambling to make last-minute arrangements because the big companies were being stubborn? 🙅‍♂️ No thanks! I love that the city is prioritizing the kids' needs and finding a way forward together with the bus companies. It's all about those little ones, right? 🤗 Now, let's keep our fingers crossed that this temporary deal leads to some real changes down the line 💪.
 
Man I'm so relieved 😌 this whole school bus debacle was getting out of hand. It's crazy how some companies were gonna just bail on all those kids with disabilities or living in shelters. Like, what's the plan for them? 🤔 At least this last-minute deal gives us a temporary reprieve and hopefully sets up something better down the line. I'm glad Mayor Adams stepped in to make sure these kids can get to school safely. 💯 It's just another reason why we need to keep advocating for those underserved communities, you know? 🙏
 
omg u guys can imagine if those buses stopped running?! i was literally stressing about my bro's special needs bus service 🚌😩 and now that it's all sorted out i'm so relieved 😌 his therapist is super grateful too! but seriously, this deal better be a stepping stone to fixing the whole system, not just a temporary fix 🤞. those contracts need a major overhaul, like, what's up with no-show buses and delays?! 🚫🕰️ anyway, kudos to the city officials for getting it done on time 💪
 
I'm glad this is finally over 🙌! I mean, can you even imagine not having those buses run? It's crazy to think about how many parents were scrambling around, trying to figure out what to do... especially with all these kids relying on them for disabilities and stuff 💯. Like, it's not just about the parents either - it's about the teachers, the schools, the whole system 🤝. This deal might seem like a temporary fix, but I'm hoping it sets the stage for some serious changes down the line. Those contracts are due for an overhaul, imo 🚂📝
 
I'm really relieved that the NYC school bus service crisis was averted at the last minute 😌. I mean, can you imagine the chaos and disruption it would've caused if those contracts had expired? Hundreds of thousands of kids would've been left scrambling for alternative arrangements, and some parents who rely on buses specifically for their children's disabilities would've been really screwed 🤕.

The fact that smaller bus companies stepped up and said they'd continue service is a big win, but it also highlights the need for longer-term contracts with more accountability measures 📊. We can't just keep patching things together with temporary fixes – we need real systemic changes to address the issues plaguing this system 💪.

Mayor Adams deserves credit for stepping in and ensuring that public school students can safely get to and from schools, but let's not forget that this is a classic case of the city playing catch-up instead of proactively addressing these problems 🕰️. Still, it's better than nothing, and I'm hopeful that we'll see some meaningful reforms soon 🔥.
 
just when u thought the nyc school bus system was gonna implode lol 😅 this last minute deal is a total lifesaver 4 all those kids who need it most 🚌💕 but let's not sugarcoat it, this is just a temporary fix till they get their act together 🤔 these contracts have been outdated for decades and the service has been pretty rough 🚫👎 what's next? are they gonna get their priorities straight or just keep kicking the can down the road ⏱️
 
🚌💕 I'm so relieved to hear that a deal was reached just in time! The thought of all those kids left stranded without bus service is just heartbreaking 🤕. But seriously, this is a huge win for the city's most vulnerable students and their parents 👫. It's about time we address these issues and get some accountability measures in place 📝. I'm stoked that smaller companies stepped up to fill the gap, even if it was last-minute 🙏. Now let's hope this temporary arrangement leads to stronger contracts and improved services for all NYC school buses 🚂💨 #NYCSchoolBus #AccountabilityMatters #DisabilityRights
 
come on guys, its about time something got done around here 🙄. seriously though, this is what happens when you let contracts expire and expect everyone to just roll with it. i mean, who gets to make plans 2-3 months in advance? meanwhile, people are scrambling to find alternative transportation for their kids because some bus company doesnt want to show up on time ⏰. glad the city stepped in to avoid a disaster, but lets be real, this is just a band aid solution 🤕. when are we gonna see some real changes around here?
 
I'm so relieved to hear that a last-minute deal has been reached to save NYC's school bus service 🙌. It's absolutely unacceptable that contracts had expired and would have left hundreds of thousands of students without reliable transportation. The fact that the city was able to negotiate an extension, albeit temporary, is a huge win for vulnerable students who rely on these services. I'm also glad to see that smaller companies stepped up to continue service, even if the larger ones held out until the last minute 🤔. Now, let's hope this deal lays the groundwork for stronger, more accountable contracts that address the systemic issues plaguing the bus system. A new era of improved bus services is long overdue! 💚
 
🚌😌 Oh man, this is a huge weight off the shoulders of NYC parents! I was getting super worried about all those kids who depend on school buses, esp the ones with disabilities or living in shelters. It's crazy to think how close we came to chaos 🤯. Glad that someone listened and made a deal happen. Two years might not seem like much, but it's a start 💪. And props to Mayor Adams for keeping his promise about getting these kids safe 👍. Now let's keep the momentum going and make sure those contracts get rewritten with accountability measures 📝!
 
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