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NYC School Bus Shutdown Averted as All 52 Vendors Sign 30-Day Extension

A 30-day extension keeps service running pending panel action on contract terms.

A photograph of a large group of adults in jackets some sitting and some standing in a large auditorium, and three people are holding large yellow and black signs.
A school bus is parked on 8th avenue in New York City.
School bus service in the city is notorious for its unreliability.
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Overview

  • All 52 private bus companies signed a 30-day emergency contract on Oct. 30, averting a work stoppage that threatened transportation for roughly 150,000 students on Monday.
  • The Panel for Educational Policy unanimously opposed a five-year extension and signaled it may consider a two- to three-year deal with stronger accountability at its November meeting.
  • City officials said the extension, which includes a 30-day grace period, is expected to keep yellow bus service operating through the end of the calendar year as talks continue.
  • Contingency plans remain in place, including free OMNY cards, prepaid rideshare for eligible families, and reimbursements if service disruptions occur.
  • A 2011 state court ruling limits worker protections to contract extensions, leaving the system on month-to-month deals since summer while negotiators seek longer-term terms that address service and labor concerns.