โSuspiciousโ fire at an STA bus lot on New Berlin leaves more school buses damaged
Days after a fire broke out at a school bus depot in Regency, leaving several buses charred and two people injured, another fire was reported Friday morning at a Student Transportation of America lot in the New Berlin area.
School bus company warns against Duval driver strike, promises to pull benefits
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Regional Vice President of Operations for Student Transportation of America told its Duval County employees that theyll be stripped of any longevity benefits if they do not return to work next week. This letter was sent to an employee of Student Transportation of America in Duval County on Aug. 11, 2020. School bus drivers and monitors in Duval County are scheduled to report to work on Aug. 19, one-day before students arrive. "Keeping Students Safe on the Bus" - A poster from Student Transportation of America. (Student Transportation of America)News4Jax contacted Teamsters Local 512 for comment about Gallagher Jr.s letter and for more information about the seniority benefits within the unions collective bargaining agreement.
Bus company boosts Jacksonvilles COVID-19 safety rules
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. As school districts across the country begin the new semester, students taking the bus to school will likely have a different experience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In early August, Student Transportation of America, a transportation contractor that operates in 22 states, released an updated list of safety protocols for drivers and students. "Keeping Students Safe on the Bus" - A poster from Student Transportation of America. These STA regulations are in addition to DCPSs COVID-19 safety policies already in place, which include:A mask requirement for all students on the bus. This comes as the bus drivers union, Teamsters Local 512, continues its negotiations with both carriers.
Students must wear masks, but Duval school bus drivers still concered about COVID-19
Amid a pandemic and with less than a month until the start of school, Duval County Public Schools is releasing information on how it plans to get thousands of students to school safely. On Monday, Greene revealed it will be nearly impossible to follow CDC guidelines for socially distancing on a school bus. We already know that we cannot social distance on a school bus, Greene said. The transportation company employing the largest amount of school bus drivers for Duval County didnt answer questions about hazard pay or answering how often drivers would be tested. As such, we are working with the Duval County Public Schools on a back-to-school strategy to ensure the safety of both drivers and students."
Bus driverโs pay raises in question as school board explores new vendor
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ More than 200 Duval County School bus drivers have signed their names to petition the Duval County School Board over a contract decision that could put hundreds of bus driver pay raises at risk. The petition, signed by 261 drivers with First Student Transportation, lays out concerns over the school districtโs recommendation that Student Transportation of America take over another school zone. Itโs a company that, records show, will pay bus drivers less than the current company plans to pay next school year. Currently, the Duval County School District has five separate contracts for each geographic school area. โWe believe in offering a good economic package so people want to be school bus drivers again.โIn a letter to the school board, drivers wrote: โWe have never thought of a strike before, and do not want to strike, but feel the offer Lee Rd.