CINCINNATI — School bus drivers employed by First Student, the private contractor that transports students for Princeton City Schools, are on strike this morning after a final bargaining session on Sept. 29 ended without an agreement.
WATCH: Bus drivers for Princeton City Schools go on strike over low wages
According to a press release, the drivers' contract expires Sept. 30. The union and First Student had agreed to extend the old contract through August and September to continue negotiations.
The release states that many of the drivers earn wages low enough to qualify for Medicaid. First Student provides no medical or prescription coverage to its drivers, and others purchase coverage through the state exchange out of their own wages.
At a bargaining session on Sept. 23, First Student raised its wage offer by five cents over three years, according to the release.
The union's most recent proposal called for $3.00 per hour in year one, $2.00 in year two and $2.00 in year three. It also included a five-and-a-half-hour daily route guarantee, additional pay for drivers who cover routes left open by staffing shortages, and contract language requiring First Student to report accurate wage information to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
According to the release, when the union proposed basic bronze-level health coverage, First Student countered with no wage increases for three years and a requirement that drivers pay half the premium.
Families of students in Princeton City Schools and the non-public schools First Student serves should make other arrangements for getting their children to school until an agreement is reached, according to the release.
The drivers serve students in Sharonville, Glendale, Lincoln Heights, Evendale, Woodlawn, and Springdale.
Princeton City Schools Superintendent Mari Phillips says the district has been preparing for a potential bus driver strike for weeks, as negotiations between First Student and the drivers' union have stalled ahead of a Sept. 30 contract deadline.
Phillips said the district is not involved in the bargaining process but has been in close communication with First Student throughout the negotiations.
"We've been working closely with First Student. We've seen some buses that could not be covered, and so we knew that something was going to be occurring," Phillips said. "They have done a great job communicating with us."
Phillips said the district has developed a contingency plan that includes both in-person and online instruction options for students who cannot get to school.
"We have plans in place so that students who can't make it are receiving instruction from home online, and then those who can come in obviously receive instruction in person," Phillips said.
For younger students who may not be able to stay home alone while parents work, Phillips said the district is preparing instructional packets.
"One of the things that we're working on right now, just for Oct. 1 and 2, is creating instructional packets for those students who can't be online," Phillips said. "We're making sure that the instruction is provided to them today, so that they can take that home with them as well."
Phillips said students with disabilities will continue to be transported through contracted vans, and that high school students are already accustomed to online learning through Google Classroom.
Phillips said because many of the communities the district serves lack sidewalks, the district transports the vast majority of its students.
"We transport most of our kids. In fact, I think we transport all of our kids. There are a few walkers, but the majority of the kids are transported," Phillips said. "We have to rely on transportation to get our students to school."
Phillips said she has noticed an increase in uncovered bus routes in recent weeks, which she believes is connected to the ongoing negotiations.
"When we looked at the shortages a week or so ago, it wasn't as many. As we get closer to Sept. 30, which is the last day of their no-strike clause, we've seen more," Phillips said.
She said parent communication has been a priority and that families have responded well.
"I've sent letters home. I've put letters on the website as well, just anticipating there's going to be a transportation work shortage," Phillips said. "I think they really appreciate the upfront and the transparency that we provided."
Phillips said the district has not yet had conversations about whether to bring bus drivers in-house rather than continuing to contract with First Student, adding that the focus right now is on managing the immediate situation.
She said she hopes the two sides reach a deal but that the district is prepared if they do not.
"We're hoping that today they will reach resolution. If not, we have a plan in place to move forward," Phillips said.
Despite the disruption, Phillips noted that the district intends to press forward with homecoming week activities, including a parade, the first football game in the district's new stadium on Friday and a homecoming dance Saturday.
"We're just going to continue to do what we do," Phillips said.
Students at Princeton Expo said they learned about the situation from their teachers earlier in the day and are already feeling the effects.
Tenth grader Camarah Carter said some classmates were unable to make it to school and will have to complete their work from home.
"The shortage is not okay for kids to not be able to come to school and take their education seriously, and now they have to stay home and do their work, and it's just really unfortunate," Carter said.
Carter said being at home is not the same as being in the building.
"Not being in a classroom means you can't really socialize with the other people that you would like to, so it can be a little bit complicated," Carter said.
Carter said the building felt relatively normal on Wednesday but expects that to change.
"I feel like tomorrow it's probably going to be really empty because a lot of people are not going to be able to show up due to the bus shortage," Carter said.
WATCH: Princeton bus driver strike impact on students
The disruption is already being felt. Lisa Cobbs, who is helping raise her granddaughter at Sharonville Elementary, said a bus driver called her the night before to warn her service would stop Thursday.
"I was surprised last night because one of the bus drivers had called me and told me to look out because there would not be no bus service starting on Thursday," Cobbs said.
Cobbs said her granddaughter's bus did not arrive Thursday morning or afternoon, leaving the child frightened.
"My granddaughter's bus didn't come this morning. And it didn't come this afternoon," Cobbs said.
"I talked to her; she said she was scared because she felt like no one was coming to get her today," Cobbs said.
Cobbs said the impact will extend well beyond her family.
"A lot of parents don't have the type of transportation that can transport the children to school. So that's a really big factor to me that, you know, the children with special needs will not be able to get to school," Cobbs said.
Her advice to other parents and caregivers was direct.
"Just get prepared. Call off work or tell them they're going to be late because of the transportation," Cobbs said.
Junior Kevin Deleon Rayundo said he found out about the strike threat the day before and took action to help his classmates get to school.
"I texted like five of my friends, and I took them to school. Even though I live like about 20 minutes from here," Rayundo said.
Rayundo said he is also worried about the impact on after-school programs and extracurricular activities.
"I'm getting more worried about my extracurricular programs outside of school, like after-school programs," Rayundo said. "We had this happen in the past before, where activity buses got canceled and some students who wish to come here can't because of transportation."
With homecoming events scheduled throughout the week, Rayundo said the timing makes the disruption especially difficult.
"It'll cause a significant impact to our homecoming, which will be Saturday, and tomorrow and Friday we'll be like setting up our stuff in the gym and everything. So it's gonna require a lot of adults and staff members doing it instead of students," Rayundo said.
Teachers have told students that tardiness will not be counted against them on Thursday, Rayundo said.
First Student issued a statement saying it has put forward a strong proposal and remains committed to reaching a deal.
"First Student is disappointed that union leadership has chosen to threaten a strike that would disrupt students, families, and schools across the Princeton City Schools community," the statement said.
The company said it bargained late into the evening on Sept. 29 and presented the union with a wage proposal it described as "well above the average in the industry," but had not yet received a counterproposal or formal response from the union as of the time the statement was issued.
First Student said the two sides were scheduled to meet again at 5 p.m. Sept. 30, though the company said union leadership had not clearly confirmed whether they would attend.
"A strike is not in the best interest of students, families, or the community, and it should not be used as a substitute for continued negotiations," the statement said.
First Student said it values its drivers and the role they play in the community.
"They are trusted members of this community, and we respect the important work they do safely transporting students to and from school," the statement said. "That is why we have put forward a serious economic proposal that significantly increases wages while keeping student transportation reliable and sustainable."
