Alan Jackson is the director of Renfrew County Bus Lines. (Sherry Haaima photo)
A spokesperson for Renfrew County’s bus operators agrees the negotiations that resumed this week were constructive and informational and says they remain optimistic.
“We would like to get back to what we do best, providing safe and reliable transportation to the students that we have provided for, for decades,” said Alan Jackson in an emailed statement. “It hasn’t been easy for us either, the drivers take pride in what they do and miss their students. We are not receiving any monies during this funding dispute.”
Jackson said the Renfrew County Joint Transporation Consortium has the operators’ counteroffer before them and that officials and school boards were expected to further discuss the matter this week with the next meeting between the two sides scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30.
Jackson cautioned that even when a deal is reached, it will take minimum three weeks to get buses back on the road.
Since the contracts expired in July, bus companies have not had access to the student information routing system, even though parents may have received their child’s routing information, said Jackson.
“We usually have July and August to print, review, have corrections made, set up times to have drivers come in, do dry runs etc. so they are familiar with pickup and drop off times, and recommend changes prior to school start up. We need complete signed contracts for insurance regulations and liabilities, so our legal teams will have to review the proposed contracts prior to signing.”
Meanwhile, local educators’ unions and community members have organized a virtual town hall meeting on the issue, set for Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 7-8:30 p.m.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)