HUNTINGTON, Suffolk County (WABC) – An emergency school committee meeting is scheduled for tonight to address a sudden school bus crisis in the Huntington Union Free School District in Suffolk County.
While schools like Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School are open this morning, it can be difficult for students to get to after the bus company abruptly terminated its contract with the district.
The waiting times can be 2 hours or longer – if the buses come at all.
The state is offering help in the form of more drivers, but this is only temporary.
Officials and school district leaders worked Wednesday to find other means of transportation for their students within the district.
New York Senator James Gaughran said an emergency bus service would be launched in Huntington on Thursday to ensure “there is no interruption in service for students on Thursday or Friday,” while urging the bus company in charge to resume full service.
“I’ve worked with the governor’s office around the clock to find a solution, and I’m thrilled that the governor has secured emergency assistance to make sure there is no interruption to duty on Thursday or Friday,” said Gaughran. “I beg Huntington Coach to fulfill his contract and resume full service immediately.”
However, school district superintendent Jim Polansky says the delayed schedule “cannot be changed at this time” but insisted the district is still working towards a “quick fix”.
Huntington Coach, one of the companies providing services to the district, was canceled this week due to driver shortage due to COVID vaccination and test assignments.
“In addition to this unprecedented shortcoming, we are facing the implementation of new COVID test / vaccination requirements, with significant numbers of drivers willing to potentially quit rather than stick to,” the company said in a statement. “With all this going, we won’t have enough drivers to cover all of our work in the future and we don’t see much improvement in this situation anytime soon.”
This leaves the district little time for an emergency plan.
The situation has left students and parents desperately looking for alternatives.
In a statement this morning, the bus company said:
“This decision is not taken lightly. We have provided safe, efficient, and affordable school transportation services to the children of the Huntington’s Disease District for more than 62 years, and we plan to do so for many years to come. Unfortunately, the realities of a changing industry and workforce are leaving.” us no alternative. “
While some bus lines have been completely canceled, other lines will run until next Friday.
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