CPS [Chicago Public Schools] talking to Lyft, Uber after bus drivers quit over vaccine mandate

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 8/30/2021 | Nader Issa

[simpson96]

As thousands of Chicago Public Schools families scrambled to find transportation to the first day of school Monday because of a mass bus driver resignation that officials attributed to anger over a vaccine mandate, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her administration is in talks with rideshare companies to take children to their schools.

The move would be highly unusual and could cause yet another set of dilemmas to sort through as parents figure out how to get their kids to classes.

About 2,100 students, including 990 in special education, were given no more than two days’ notice that their bus route no longer existed. District officials said they received word Friday from the private companies with which they contract for bus services that 73 drivers had resigned because they refused to abide by CPS’ vaccine mandate, which requires all employees and contractors to get shots by Oct. 15. The requirement was announced more than two weeks ago.(snip)

Though the district received late notice about the 73 drivers resigning, CPS already knew there was an overall shortage of more than 400 drivers. CPS had adjusted to set up routes for the approximately 14,500 students who use school buses, but the existing shortage meant the district was headed into the school year operating on thin ice if a situation arose like the resignations last week. The district now has 770 drivers — about 500 fewer than what’s needed, officials said.

CPS is offering families $1,000 upfront and $500 monthly for a travel reimbursement until the problems are fixed.

[metmom]

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[upchuck]

Meanwhile, bet Chicago pols and bureaucrats are having their kids chauffeured by staff.

Those kind of folks have the money to send their kids to private school.