BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) The Buffalo School Board is discussing ideas to solve the bus crisis in the district. But the matter was sent to committee Wednesday night.
"I was encouraged that at least we're having the debate," said Sam Radford of "We The Parents" on WBEN Friday morning.
The board discussed the possibility of purchasing pre-paid gas cards to
reimburse parents who drive their children to school due to the bus driver shortage, which has been a problem for the district since the beginning of the school year.
The board voted to send the measure to committee.
It's frustrating to Radford that no action was taken.
"This is a no brainer. I don't know why this hasn't happened already," he said.
"Whatever the issues are, let's figure them out and go ahead and do it."
Radford says other districts in the state and the country are doing it.
Wednesday night's school board meeting also included discussion on staff bonuses.
"There seemed to be a sense of urgency for that," said Radford. A proposal on the table would give a $2,000 bonus to all staff members. That's on top of pay raises that Superintendent Dr.Kriner Cash has proposed for top administrators. Despite efforts to bring it to a vote, that too was sent to committee.
"In terms of giving people money, the board has a sense of urgency," said Radford. "When it comes to our kids, we don't see that same sense of urgency."
He notes that one of the most fundamental responsibilities of the school board is to make sure that kids get to school. "Our attendance used to be 90 to 95%. Now, it's below 80%."
The money that would be used to pay the bonuses and to reimburse parents is federal Emergency Relief funding. The district has access to $15 million for transportation needs.
"Tell me what's more of an emergency relief," asked Radford. "Getting kids to school by reimbursing parents, or giving staff a $2,000 dollar bonus."
Radford insists he's not locked-in to the idea of giving parents pre-paid gas cards. But he says they need to do something. "Some districts have given out stipends. That way, people to use Uber and rideshare to get their kids to and from school. But all we heard the other night is criticism. We have to do something."
