PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ellen McHugh, Member of the Public, on School Bus Transportation and Disability Inclusion
3:42:33
·
3 min
Ellen McHugh testifies about ongoing issues with school bus transportation and the lack of inclusion for disability-owned businesses in DOE contracts. She emphasizes the need for greater accountability and compliance with federal laws regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities.
- Highlights the DOE's failure to include bus companies run by individuals with disabilities in their contracting process
- Cites specific federal regulations (34 CFR 300.320 and CFR 10104.0.4) regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities
- Criticizes the lack of transparency in DOE's contract awarding process due to the absence of public meetings on contracts
Ellen McHugh
3:42:33
On this very long day, thank you for your patience, and thank you for holding this session.
3:42:41
I'm not going to pile on because you already know what the issues are, and the issues have existed for any number of times.
3:42:48
My son is long since out of the public school system, but busing was a problem then.
3:42:54
I'm not looking to use anybody, but I am going to ask and maybe take this in a different area.
3:43:02
You need the Department of Education is counting its ability and its willingness to include.
3:43:12
Yet, when asked about contracts led to those busing companies that are managed by directed by, run by, or owned by individuals with disabilities, I get a blanks there.
3:43:26
People look at me and say, but minority and women owned businesses don't mean that.
3:43:31
And I say, yes, it does.
3:43:33
Disability is a minority.
3:43:35
It affects all ages, all races, all sexes, and yet the DOE has consistently refused to make any effort to reach out to those bus companies that are run by managed by or administered by individuals with disability.
3:43:55
The city council and the controller's office would have some ability to enforce the inclusionary structure on the DOE, except for the fact that the DOE no longer has public meetings on its contracts.
3:44:13
So we, as the public, have no idea or little I I shouldn't say no idea.
3:44:19
A very little idea about what contracts are being let, why to whom and what discussion occurred around those contracts.
3:44:28
There are I'm going to completely change my submitted testimony.
3:44:33
But just for the record, I want to read into the record of the law.
3:44:40
34 CFR, sex 300.320 per subparagraph a reads that individuals with disabilities be involved in and take progress in the general education curriculum and participate in our extra curricular and non academic activities and must be educated and participate in such activities with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children.
3:45:09
CFR 10104.0.4 reads.
3:45:15
No qualified handicap person remembering that this was written quite some time ago.
3:45:21
Shall on the basis of his or her handicap be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of an otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives federal financial assistance.
3:45:38
We receive federal financial assistance.
3:45:42
We are out of compliance with the law, and the DOE has consistently refused to admit to that.
3:45:49
Thank you very much for your time and for your patience.
3:45:52
And for your questions as well because this has gotta be hard.
3:45:57
It's hard to hear, it's hard to do, and it's hard to sit here.
