The most vulnerable children in our city are being abused by the way school buses are being assigned and routed in New York City.  Many children with special needs have limited time travel on their IEPs. This is routinely violated by the New York City Department of Education's, Office of Pupil Transportation.

Children are being picked up at 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 am so they can go to two or more schools to drop off children.  The school day officially begins at 9:00 am, breakfast begins at 8:10 am. In the afternoon children are being forced to sit idle at school waiting for their bus for 45 to 60 minutes or more because it is going to more than one school to pick up children. Once children finally get on their bus they often have an hour or more commute so they are arriving home 2 to 3 hours after being dismissed from the regular school day.

The children affected have developmental and physical disabilities.  They have seizure disorders and other serious health concerns.  They are not children who should be stuck on buses for hours or forced to sit and wait at school for buses because routes are poorly scheduled.  They arrive at home hungry and with dirty diapers. In some cases the heat or air conditioning isn't working on the buses.  In other cases children as young as 5 are on buses with high school students.

My son is just one of these students but it is happening to his classmates and other children around the city of New York as well.  My son's story was featured in a News 4 Investigation last fall (www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/I-Team_-Parents_-Students-Fighting-School-Bus-Headaches_New-York-226246991.html.) Things were fixed, but only temporarily.  In January there were problems with his bus picking him up late (9:30 am) and during the coldest week of the year with no heat.  He's had 3 new drivers in the past two months.  Last week his bus pick up and drop off times were changed again because his bus is now going to two other schools in addition to his. As a parent of a child with special needs I have always been told how important it is to have consistency and routine with my son.  His school bus ride this year has never been consistent or routine.

The practice of putting children with special needs on buses going to two or more schools needs to end.  It's causing a great deal of unnecessary anxiety for New York City's most vulnerable children and putting their lives in danger.

During Mr. DeBlasio's mayoral campaign he talked about a Tale of Two Cities, but what about the tale of THIS very vulnerable part of the city?

Thank you,

Susan Heim