PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ruth DiRoma, Senior Family Educator at INCLUDEnyc
3:16:07
·
6 min
Ruth DiRoma, representing INCLUDEnyc, testified about ongoing issues with school bus transportation for students with disabilities in New York City. She highlighted systemic problems, called for new bus contracts to improve service and accountability, and supported proposed legislation for increased transparency.
- DiRoma emphasized that current busing issues prevent many students with disabilities from receiving mandated services and fully attending their programs.
- She urged the city to rebid bus contracts, which have been extended without improvement since 1979, to create an environment for better service and stronger accountability.
- DiRoma supported the adoption of Intro 515 (2024) for increased reporting on school bus services and employees, and recommended enhancing the parent-facing bus app.
Ruth DiRoma
3:16:07
Hi.
3:16:09
We thank the New York City Council's committee on education and contracts for jointly holding this critical school bus transportation series of hearing.
3:16:21
My name is Ruth Deroma.
3:16:23
I'm senior family educator at InCLUDE NYSE.
3:16:28
Included NYC is the leading source of training and information for young people with disabilities ages 0 to 26 with known or suspected disabilities.
3:16:41
Their parents and the professionals who support them.
3:16:45
We have helped New York City families navigate the complex special education service and support systems for over 40 years.
3:16:57
This school year has begun with all of the familiar issues we have experienced with school transportation over the years.
3:17:08
Routing issues, staffing turnover and shortages, restrictive schedules, no busing after school or during summer, and many other systemic barriers related to busing.
3:17:25
Families contact our helpline because they seek help resolving their children's busing issues due to the lack of timely and clearly outlined steps.
3:17:38
For the escalation process and procedures from both schools and the New York City public school system.
3:17:46
As a result, it prevents thousands of students with disabilities each year If not, tens of thousands of students receiving special education services from adequately receive adequately receiving all their mandated related services and specialized instruction and being able to fully and consistently attend their programs.
3:18:15
Students with disabilities should not continue paying high educational and social emotional costs.
3:18:24
For faulty and insufficient bussing, while bus companies continue to have contracts extended without improving their service.
3:18:35
Furthermore, the leading city school busing contract still in place today is nearly forty five years old.
3:18:46
Since 1979, when the 1st school bus strike occurred year after year busing contract have been extended as opposed to new the city putting out new bids for contracts.
3:19:02
This should not be allowed to continue, and new contracts would create the environment for improved service and stronger accountability measure metrics.
3:19:16
New contracts coupled with changes in admission policies could lead to students with disabilities being more integrated with general education students.
3:19:30
As the US Supreme Court intended, bussing to be more than a half a century ago in their 1971 decision when they ruled the federal courts could use busing as a desegregation tool.
3:19:48
Additionally, we fully support the council's adoption of proposed local law, 0515, 2024, requiring that the Department of Ed to report on school bus services and employees.
3:20:05
More transparency not only has the potential for bus companies to provide better quality services, but it also lends itself to building trust.
3:20:18
With families in an overdue area for repairs.
3:20:23
We also urge the city to allocate resources to enhance the parent facing bus app and fund a public outreach campaign because far too many parents don't even know it exists while it allows parents to see their location of their child's bus.
3:20:46
It does not tell parents what time their child gets into their school in the mornings or actual boarding times at the end of the day.
3:20:59
We know there are far too many students sitting in idling buses for long periods both at the start and end of the school day because there are students from multiple schools on the same routes yet with different school schedules.
3:21:19
This is not okay.
3:21:22
Additionally, we recommend that the New York City public schools and the city, 1, put pressure on the state legislature in the next legislative session to amend section 14 of section 305 of the New York State Education Law stating bus contracts should be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, allowing the city to gain more control over the quality of services.
3:21:56
Rebid city busing contracts by July 2025 update the chancellor's regs on 8 801 on pupil transportation
Rita Joseph
3:22:08
by the end of Thank you for your testimony.
3:22:11
You submitted to us on record.
3:22:13
Right?
Ruth DiRoma
3:22:14
Electronically.
Rita Joseph
3:22:15
Okay.
3:22:15
Thank you.
Ruth DiRoma
3:22:16
Thank you.
3:22:16
Mhmm.
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Testimony by Maggie Moroff, Senior Special Education Policy Coordinator of Action for Reform in Special Education (ARISE) Coalition
