That does not answer the question posed: What power do they have in regard to private school transport?
Not that it matters.
Yes, it does matter.
Many private schools use the same buses that the public schools use because one bus company will contract with all of them.
In some areas that may be true. Where I live it is not true, and the schools around here cross state lines. The public schools own the buses they use, as do the private schools. They are not contracted to a bus company.
At first blush, it may sound ridiculous that a public school teachers' union would have any influence at all over private school transport. But then, remember, that the NEA exerts powerful influence over the public schools. Let's face it - the NEA runs the public schools. ;-) And, because the public schools behave like a monopoly, everything throughout the education industry - curriculum, cost, transportation, etc. - is affected.
There is no public school teacher's union in Virginia. Therefore the NEA does not run the public schools here.
Does the NEA have so much control that ALL public transit does not have seatbelts because they may oppose them on schoolbuses?
Invoking the NEA here remains a red herring.
On that note I must depart this discussion, not for any other reason than I cook at the local Moose Lodge on Wednesday nights and have to be ther in 20 minutes. I will check back when I return.
What are you talking about? I never said that.
Btw, as it turns out, there were no seat belts on that bus. Apparently, attempts to pass seat belt requirements in MN failed: Click