Negotiations set to resume between school bus drivers, Durham

After a two-week hiatus from negotiations, Durham School Services and Teamsters Local 959 are set to meet on Thursday and Friday mornings at 9 a.m.

“We are hopeful that something will come to get our workers back to driving school buses again,” said Patrick FitzGerald from Teamsters Local 959. School bus drivers for the Mat-Su School District have been on strike since January 31.

During the regularly scheduled Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani told board members in his update that there is a plan in place to begin adding more Special Education bus routes, beginning with outlying schools first, then moving into “core” schools, with the goal being a total of 15 to 20 routes. Currently, there are only 6 SPED routes running as the strike continues.

Dr. Trani also clarified the impact of the bus strike on current student attendance, which has fallen by over 700 students, telling the board that there is a 65% increase in absences compared to last year. “This significant impact is because of the strike, I am certain of it.”

He also voiced concern that if the strike lingers on, graduation rates could also be impacted.

Dr. Trani also reported that the repurposing transportation dollars for before and after school care is allowed, as well as repurposing funds for extended summer transportation and instruction.

An agenda item discussing the use of funds for the procurement and purchase of gas cards for families impacted by the bus strike, an item that was brought up during the last school board meeting, was only partially discussed as time ran out after a 15-minute extension of the meeting. Discussion is slated to continue at the next school board meeting.