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We are PIST at School Bus Service Episode!!
Continuing with our discussion of schools re-opening, we sit down with Sara Catalinotto and Milagros Cancel, active members of Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST), who discuss what is happening in the world of school bus parents and their everyday struggles of getting adequate service for their child that meets their needs. PIST NYC is a parent-led organization that has advocated for improved bus service here in New York. In NYC, 150,000 children rely on the school bus; 60,000 of them have special needs, where the school bus is another related service provided on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
While parents have always been concerned about the less than adequate service they receive from the school bus before the pandemic, Covid-19 has brought on a new set of challenges, especially now that schools are running at 100% capacity, whereas last year they were running at 25% capacity, which allowed for social distancing. This is then compounded by the shortage of school bus drivers and attendants that is happening nationwide, which Sara and Milagros could have been resolved if bus drivers and attendants were granted the Employee Protection Provision (EPP) that they have requested. Hazard Pay and fair work conditions are also necessary, as drivers and attendants risk their lives to bring children to school.
Sara and Milagros also discuss the School Bus Bill of Rights that PIST NYC drafted, which Milagros emphasized the need to file a class-action lawsuit, as this is a Civil Rights issue. To learn more about PIST NYC and their work, please the links below:
PIST NYC Website
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By New Normal In ParentingContinuing with our discussion of schools re-opening, we sit down with Sara Catalinotto and Milagros Cancel, active members of Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST), who discuss what is happening in the world of school bus parents and their everyday struggles of getting adequate service for their child that meets their needs. PIST NYC is a parent-led organization that has advocated for improved bus service here in New York. In NYC, 150,000 children rely on the school bus; 60,000 of them have special needs, where the school bus is another related service provided on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
While parents have always been concerned about the less than adequate service they receive from the school bus before the pandemic, Covid-19 has brought on a new set of challenges, especially now that schools are running at 100% capacity, whereas last year they were running at 25% capacity, which allowed for social distancing. This is then compounded by the shortage of school bus drivers and attendants that is happening nationwide, which Sara and Milagros could have been resolved if bus drivers and attendants were granted the Employee Protection Provision (EPP) that they have requested. Hazard Pay and fair work conditions are also necessary, as drivers and attendants risk their lives to bring children to school.
Sara and Milagros also discuss the School Bus Bill of Rights that PIST NYC drafted, which Milagros emphasized the need to file a class-action lawsuit, as this is a Civil Rights issue. To learn more about PIST NYC and their work, please the links below:
PIST NYC Website