Tempers flare as proposed bus services denounced
Source: By LUCILLE HUSTON, The Review (OH), June 29, 2007
HAMMONDSVILLE — Tempers flared and criticism was leveled at the Edison Local Board of Education during its meeting Thursday night. The cafeteria was full of OAPSE/AFSCME union members from throughout the State of Ohio, including the Ohio president from Girard in Trumbull County and a union representative from Columbus.
The reason for the criticism and discontent was the board’s plan to contract bus services to a private company.
……[Fred McGraw] also cited a report from a Kent State University professor concerning a study on contracting bus services. He claimed the district would have a loss of control, a higher costs, dissatisfaction because problems experienced by parents and students would not go directly to the school and because there would be hidden costs.
In some districts, he said the private companies attempt to purchase fuel through the school because it is tax free, and added that this is illegal as some have discovered.