Students didn't see any delays getting home Tuesday afternoon, Boston Public School officials said, but they may still see problems getting to school Wednesday morning after some bus drivers failed to show up Monday and Tuesday mornings for their scheduled routes.
Boston Public Schools said they'll need 181 buses on the road to pick up almost 4,000 students Wednesday morning; by 9 p.m., school officials said the bus company still needed 15 more drivers to confirm they would be there to ensure students would make it to school on time.
Thirteen of the 120 scheduled bus routes did not run Monday, leaving nearly 400 students sitting at their bus stops waiting for a ride, school official said. Twenty routes were left uncovered Tuesday morning due to drivers not showing up for work, according to the school district. Tuesday morning's uncovered routes were eventually filled with Veolia supervisors. Supervisors with the bus company also covered scheduled bus routes Tuesday afternoon.
Boston Public Schools says they're still assessing the situation for Wednesday morning and are encouraging parents to check the status of their child's bus route.
"We know this is frustrating for families and schools. We join you in that frustration. We will continue to share information as it becomes available," the school district said in a statement.
Boston Public Schools said it was assured by Veolia that drivers would report for their morning routes, despite allegations of failing to show up last week to pick and practice the routes. A union spokesperson said there was an issue with how routes were calculated, causing unrealistic route times, as well as lingering contract issues.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he's getting regular updates and expects Veolia and the bus drivers' union to negotiate a new contract, but added the current situation with the bus drivers doesn't appear to be about the new contract.
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"It is unfortunate that a small group of drivers have refused to participate," he said in a statement. "I'm incredibly frustrated, and I know that parents, students, and school administrators and staff share this frustration. This is unacceptable, and I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that students get to and from school safely."
Parents are sympathetic, but growing more frustrated by the day.
"I think the bus drivers, they have a tough job, dealing with kids every single day, you've got to have a certain amount of patience and tolerance, but I don't think they should be using it to inconvenience the kids," parent James Scarborough said.
They say they hope these issues can be worked out now, instead of ending up with a repeat of what happened last year.
"It sucks because last year, for instance, in October they did the same thing, whereas it was cold then and I had to basically try to come up with other alternatives," Shawntel Garner, another parent, said.
