PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anna Brehm, Advocate & Manager of Capacity Building, Robin Hood Project at Advocates for Children of New York
2:54:04
·
3 min
Anna Brehm from Advocates for Children of New York testifies about the challenges faced by families in securing safe, reliable, and on-time school transportation for students in New York City. She highlights several issues with the current system and calls for major improvements through rebidding of bus contracts.
- Brehm shares examples of students facing long delays, inappropriate accommodations, and lack of after-school transportation options.
- She emphasizes the need for better customer service, improved coordination within NYCPS, and interim solutions while waiting for new bus contracts.
- The testimony underscores the importance of creating a transportation system that provides equitable access to all students, including those with disabilities, in temporary housing, or foster care.
Anna Brehm
2:54:04
you for the opportunity to speak with you.
2:54:06
My name is Anna Brehm, and I'm the advocate and manager of capacity building on the Robinhood Project at advocates for Children of New York.
2:54:14
For an organization focused on education.
2:54:16
It's remarkable how much time my colleagues and I spend ensuring that students have safe, reliable, on time transportation to school.
2:54:23
There's so much advocacy work to be done when students are at school.
2:54:27
But we and so many New York City families have to spend time fighting for students to get to school in the first place.
2:54:33
As just one example, last spring, one of my clients fled domestic violence and entered a shelter in another borough.
2:54:40
During a time of so much transition, it was important to this mother that her child continue attending the same school.
2:54:46
However, OPT could not identify a bus route to transport the student between his shelter and his school for the remainder of the school year.
2:54:53
This year, OPT identified a route for the 1st day of school.
2:54:57
But for weeks, the student's been picked up so late that he arrives to school well after the start of the school day, and this is class.
2:55:05
We need a system that provides students with bus service promptly when they need it and they get students to school on time.
2:55:11
We hear complaints about students assigned to buses that don't meet their IEP mandated accommodations and about bus staff who don't have the training needed to work with students with a abilities.
2:55:21
We need a busing system that ensures the safety of all students.
2:55:24
We need training for bus companies staff and enough buses equipped to safely operate students medical equipment.
2:55:31
We hear about students waiting for bus service to begin when they're placed in foster care.
2:55:35
Including students placed in a foster home just outside of the city who need busing to continue attending their school in the city.
2:55:42
We need to ensure that bus service or comparable door to door transportation is available to students in care even when placed outside of the city.
2:55:50
We hear from students who we hear from families whose students rely on the bus to get home, including students with disabilities, students in temporary housing, and foster care, who cannot stay after school to play sports, joins join clubs, or even receive necessary academic support because bus service isn't available after school.
2:56:08
We need bus service that allows for after school routes.
2:56:12
We hear from families who have been unable to reach bus companies in an emergency or even to get route information.
2:56:18
In some cases, when they call the bus company, the line just rings and rings.
2:56:22
We also hear from families who can't get busing issues fixed after contacting their school or OPT.
2:56:28
We need NYCPs to provide and to hold bus companies accountable for providing the customer service that New York City students and families deserve.
2:56:36
We hear these complaints and others every year.
2:56:39
New York City families need a safe, reliable, on time school transportation system that provides equitable access to all students.
2:56:47
Many of the current contracts between NY CPS and the bus companies have been in place since 1979, and it's time for a change.
2:56:54
We urge NY CPS to rebid the bus contracts and build in major improvements to create a transportation system that works for students and families.
2:57:02
We're committed to working with the city and state leaders to take the steps necessary to overhaul the system.
2:57:08
In the meantime, we also urge NY CPS to improve the transportation system today, such as taking steps to improve customer service, including the experience of calling OPT, customer service line, improve access to interim transportation when busing isn't available, improve coordination between the different divisions of NY CPS responsible for approving and providing accommodations to students with disabilities and take all steps possible to improve bus service in the short term while waiting for new bus contracts.
2:57:37
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
2:57:39
I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
