NEW: Fung Blames Raimondo for Not Intervening in Providence Bus Strike
Friday, October 12, 2018
Gubernatorial candidate Allan Fung is blaming Governor Gina Raimondo for to intervening in the Providence Bus Strike.
Fung’s statement comes as First Student and Teamsters Local 251 enter their third week of the strike that has canceled all bus service for more than 9,000 Providence school children including those with special needs.
It also comes the day after nine buses were damaged or destroyed by a fire at the First Student bus yard on Thursday night.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAs GoLocalProv reported “the total cost of the damage may reach $750,000.”
"We are not going to live in a state where children with disabilities are being used as pawns and not going to school for weeks and buses mysteriously go up in flames. Let's knock it off. Rhode Island is better than this. I’m calling on the mediator, Teamsters negotiators, and First Student representatives to go into a room this morning, and honestly, not come out until at least a temporary compromise is complete to have the buses going full speed again on Monday. This may be a private company, but they're impacting public education. The Governor doesn't think this is her role to intervene on behalf of these families? Of course, it's your role, that's what leaders do! And when I'm Governor, it's not getting to get to day 10 and several burnt out school buses later," said Fung.
Latest on Bus Strike
This week saw the ACLU of Rhode Island, along with two other civil rights organizations on Wednesday taking three separate legal steps with the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE) on behalf of students with disabilities who are caught up in the ongoing Providence school bus strike.
The complaints allege that the failure of the school district to honor its responsibility under the students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to provide transportation to and from school violates federal and state laws protecting the students’ rights.
“Although the strike presents a challenge, it does not absolve the school district from meeting its obligations to students with disabilities. The District may not foist its obligation upon parents by requiring they find, and initially fund, alternate transportation. The law is clear on this issue," said ACLU attorney Christine Marinello. "With the strike now in its third week, the District must take proactive steps to meet its legal obligations – in Jeremy’s case and those of other students whose rights are being similarly violated.”
Also on Wednesday, the Providence School Committee moved forward to issue a request for proposals in order to potentially contract with a new vendor.
Presently, the existing contract with First Student has expired and the extension has yet to receive all necessary approvals. Over the past three years -- 2015 to 2017, First Student has been paid in excess of $30 million.
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