We, the concerned parents, guardians, and community members of West Contra Costa Unified School District, are deeply troubled by the sudden and unjust replacement of Rids Brother (RIDS) with First Alt, orchestrated by First Student without providing the required notice. Rids Brother, a trusted and experienced school transportation provider that has faithfully served our community since 2017, has been an integral part of our children's daily lives.

It is with great distress that we share the following concerns:

Lack of Notice: The change occurred abruptly and without proper notice to  parents,  district and Rids Brother,. This lack of transparency has left our community in chaos and concern. They made last-minute changes without giving us time to try keep RIDS, our prefered trusted Transportation provider.

Safety Concerns: First Alt has introduced a new vendor, raising alarming safety concerns. They hire drivers without proper vetting, posting ads, and making them ready in a few days. These drivers may not comply with essential safety and compliance standards, putting our children's safety at risk.

• Parents report significant concerns about First Alt's unreliability in picking up students on time.
• Students are left waiting at school for extended periods, disrupting their schedules.
• This raises concerns about the safety of students while they wait for transportation.
• Troublingly, drivers are frequently changed without prior notification to parents.
• Consistency and familiarity with drivers are essential, especially for students with special needs.
• Abrupt driver changes can lead to confusion and discomfort for students, compromising their safety and well-being.
• Parents report receiving calls with incorrect student information, causing deep concern.
• Accurate and effective communication between transportation providers and parents is vital for student safety.
• Mistakes in student information can result in confusion and potential risks when students are being transported.
• Loading/Unloading at wrong side of the street.
• High needs Students were found transporting in old vehicals with broken taillight  waiving at their previous  drivers by rolling the window down which means window was not lock for safety, which has concern RIDS driver about saftery of that student.
• Parents are still waiting to get rides for their children .They are told that they dont have drivers and vehicals yet to start transportation.

Special Education Students: Special education students require experienced, well-trained drivers who understand their unique needs. RIDS  has a proven track record of safely transporting these students, and we cannot afford to compromise their well-being. Rids has provided the same drivers and has always communicated well if change was needed.

We firmly believe that Rids Brother holds a valid contract, has a track record of excellent service, and is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of our children and been involved as emotional support to students and parents. The decision to replace them without just cause has created unnecessary stress and jeopardized the safety and well-being of our children.

We, the undersigned parents, community members, and supporters of Rids Brother, call upon the West Contra Costa Unified School District to reevaluate their decision and rectify this grave injustice. We urge the district to prioritize the safety, reliability, and well-being of our children by bringing back Rids Brother, the long-term, safe, and reliable service that our community has cherished for years.

Goals:

• Bring back Rids Brother (RIDS) as the school transportation provider in our district.
• Ensure the safety, reliability, and well-being of our children during their daily commute to school.

Call to Action: We, the undersigned parents, community members, and supporters of RIDS, demand that West Contra Costa Unified School District rectify this situation by reinstating Rids Brother as the school transportation provider. We urge the district to prioritize our children's safety, well-being, and the continuity of the reliable service that Rids Brother has consistently provided as a local provider, local business of our Choice.

Please sign and share this petition to support the reinstatement of Rids Brothers (RIDS) for our children's safety and peace of mind.

Thank you for your support.