PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sarah Catalina Naro, Representative of Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST)
2:49:59
·
3 min
Sarah Catalina Naro, representing Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST), testified about various issues and recommendations regarding school bus transportation in NYC. She highlighted concerns about flawed routes, understaffing, and communication problems, while also addressing proposed legislation and suggesting improvements.
- Advocated for safer and more sensible school bus routes, citing issues with unstaffed routes and missed classes
- Opposed rebidding contracts without Employee Protection Provisions (EPP), suggesting a contract extension to evaluate vendors and expand services
- Commented on proposed legislation, supporting Resolution 250 for stop arms on buses, but expressing reservations about Intro 515 without further accountability measures
Sarah Catalina Naro
2:49:59
I'm here on behalf of parent's and post school transportation.
2:50:04
We have about 4000 followers since 2010.
2:50:10
And I will also submit a longer version with hopefully some links and screenshots to prove some of what I'm talking about.
2:50:20
If you just can bear with me, I didn't know the order.
Rita Joseph
2:50:25
I can't hear you.
2:50:26
Could you speak up a little louder?
Sarah Catalina Naro
2:50:28
How's this?
2:50:31
Better.
2:50:32
Okay.
2:50:33
Alright.
2:50:34
Piston NYC Organizes for school bus routes that are safer and more sensible.
2:50:41
We hosted a cohost at a town hall of two hundred people.
2:50:45
Most had kids who are missing class due to flawed or unstaffed routes or no bus power.
2:50:52
The communication needs of bus parents whose language is ASL are not being met.
2:50:59
We need some vendors to grow and some to go, but it is not worth triggering a strike by rebidding now without employee protection provisions, which our members support.
2:51:10
One of the biggest hits to bus service was when low bids without EPP displace 2000 experienced workers at once.
2:51:19
We take a contract extension if the city will use the time to truly evaluate vendors Help get an EPP plus training bill in Albany.
2:51:30
Fight the anti EPP Companies in court.
2:51:33
Look into buying up fleets or expanding NICE Bus.
2:51:37
When bus work is less lucrative, less secure, and more demanding disarms riders.
2:51:44
We need a vocational pipeline into this field.
2:51:48
Please host school transportation job fairs.
2:51:51
Please stand for the right of Haitian people who form a large fraction of school bus workers to stay here with dignity.
2:52:00
The stop arm resolution 250 is fine.
2:52:03
We thank CM Riley for his work with parents on hot school bus bus on hot school buses as well.
2:52:11
On intro 5:15, our families deserve peace of mind, but based on reality and not just reports.
2:52:19
Descriptions of training are fine, but we want input and quality control on this training.
2:52:26
Other aspects here seem to hold employees more accountable than their bosses.
2:52:32
We'd like disability awareness training for bus workers, bus vendors, OPT routers, liaisons, and at the call center.
2:52:41
A list of employee names is moot at the rate that attrition and route changes are occurring.
2:52:49
Before judging bus staff who don't give out their numbers, please try calling some vendors.
2:52:56
Parents often ask PIST.
2:52:58
Do I have the wrong number for company L?
2:53:02
It rang for 20 minutes and no one picked up.
2:53:06
Please call OPT and hear how the menu deflects parents.
2:53:10
Moms wouldn't be so desperate to reach a matron if the multimillionaire vendors would step up and hire enough dispatch to take and pass messages by radio and phone for protocol.
2:53:21
Give out the emergency contact cards that OPT stopped mailing, stop doubling routes, and then there could be some wiggle room to wait for a parent in a one time crisis.
2:53:31
Or they could issue one work phone per bus like GBC does.
2:53:35
We love bus workers who share their numbers, but it's their right to keep their private number private just like a teacher or anyone else who serves students.
2:53:43
To repeat, yes, on 250, not yet on 5:15 till accountability goes all the way up the ladder, and no, do not rebid the routes without PPE, EPP.
2:53:53
Thank you.
