Sep 10, 2008 7:48 pm US/Eastern
NYC School Kids Experience 2-Hour 1-Way Bus Trips
Drivers Say Students Getting To School Hours Late; Parents Say Children Asked To Put Up With Too Much
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Hundreds of school bus drivers and parents say recent budget cuts are hurting children in Queens. They are upset that bus routes for special needs students have been scaled back.
At 6:45 in the morning, you'll find Jordan Figueroa and his mom heading to the school bus, for what's supposed to be a 45-minute ride to his special education classes in Glen Oaks. Instead, it's been taking more than two hours.
"It's extremely frustrating and overwhelming for the entire family," mother Sharlene Figueroa said.
Figueroa has four children, the three youngest have special needs. She said the two-hour bus ride to school and the two hours home are making things worse for Jordan.
"When he reaches home after an extended long period of time on the bus his emotional behavior challenges escalate," she said. "He becomes more irritable, more frustrated."
Hundreds of frustrated bus drivers rallied in Long Island City, angry over lost jobs and cuts in bus routes. Drivers said consolidated routes often means twice as many kids traveling twice as far.
Brijida pilgrim said she's supposed to get the students to class by 8 in the morning.
"The first day we got to school 10 o'clock. Well, I thought this is the first day. Second day we got there 10:30. Even today I got to the school quarter to 10," Pilgrim said.
"You're depriving the children of their first class, maybe part of their second class, plus getting home not being able to do their homework late, eating supper late," driver John Bisbano said.
The Department of Education said buses are now routed more efficiently, eliminating between 100-200 routes without loss of service to students.
But taxpayers like Sharlene Figueroa said it's not working for her family.
The Department of Education said the first few weeks of school are always a challenge and bus routes are being adjusted.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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