As the Boston school bus drivers contract was set to expire Friday, problems with school buses arriving late or not showing up at their destinations persisted, exasperating city officials, school leaders, and families.
“It’s irresponsible, negligent, and criminal to leave children at bus stops,” said City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, who chairs the Council’s Education Committee. “When we are not picking up kids at bus stops or dropping them off at wrong stops, that is a safety issue. If we can’t keep them safe getting to and from school, we have failed.”
The problem is affecting more than a dozen schools — mostly independent charters — that began classes earlier than the city-run school system, where opening day is scheduled for Sept. 6. It remains unclear if the shortage of drivers is due to contract negotiations or is coincidental.