SEIU MN on Bus Safety

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Taxpayer Accountability and Increased Safety for Pupil Transportation in Public Schools

When school districts contract with private companies to provide student transportation services, we need to know that those companies will not cut corners on safety, service or employment standards. In recent years, many districts that have privatized their bus service have found that costs have skyrocketed. Some contracts guarantee annual increases for the bus companies even as classroom personnel are being laid off. Worst of all, district-level transportation staff and school board members alike hold back desired contract improvements and go easy on enforcing fines and other penalties for fear of scaring away irresponsible, but irreplaceable, vendors.  

 S. F. 3078/H. F. 3469 seeks to ensure that school districts are gathering the appropriate information necessary to make informed decisions regarding the quality of the contractors they work with.  This would include information on driver recruitment and retention, driver training and years of experience, turnover rates, and accident rates.

Accountability to Parents. In a recent SEIU community audit “Safe from Home to School: the Need for Student Transportation Reform,” 79% of parents indicated that they want their child to see the same bus driver all year long. Parents also stated that those driving their children to school should be “professional drivers”.

Accountability to Taxpayers.  Taxpayers want the best bang for their buck, and want to know that their money is being spent for quality service.  Under this bill private contractors would have to disclose more information. 97 percent of parents indicated that school districts should gather data on driver experience, training, and turnover prior to spending public funds.  

Improve Driver Retention and Safety. Because having healthy, experienced drivers improves safety, districts should know more about who is driving their students and adopt standard practices to stabilize this critical workforce.  Private contractors would have greater reporting requirements for hiring practices and turnover rates.