In a statement issued Thursday, Neavin said, “From First Student’s initial proposal presented to this District and in all conversations between their representatives and ours since that time, they have touted their commitment to provide ‘safe, reliable, and cost-effective student transportation.’ At all levels, they have failed.”
The statement came eight hours after a First Student bus driver backed a school bus into a Montgomery County lift station on Malina Avenue in Butler Township.
The male bus driver, whose name was not released, was attempting to back out of the cul-de-sac shortly before 7:30 a.m.
There were nearly 20 students on board the bus during the accident. No one was injured.
The bus driver left the scene and eventually ended up back at the bus barn, where someone called the Butler Township police about the accident.
“There was no criminal intent there,” said Butler Twp. Police Chief John Cresie about the driver not calling police immediately after the accident.
When the officer arrived, it was discovered that the bus that was in the accident had a bent bumper and a broken tail light, according to Cresie.
The driver was cited for minor misdemeanor charges of improper backing and for having expired license plates.
“The driver is no longer employed with First Student,” said Jen Biddinger, a spokeswoman for the bus company. She declined to comment when asked by this newspaper if the driver was fired or if he had been involved in any school bus accidents in the past.
Police have responded to at least three First Student bus accidents while on Vandalia-Butler City School routes since August, according to a search by this newspaper.
The district entered into a five-year contract with the Cincinnati-based transportation company in August of 2013 to start transporting students this school year.
At the time, Neavin told this newspaper that outsourcing bus services was an attempt to save the district up to $1.4 million in the first year and about $208,000 each year after that.
On Monday, the Vandalia-Butler Board of Education members unanimously voted to give Neavin the authority to terminate the district’s agreement with First Student or take action to ensure that the transportation company satisfactorily performs its duties and obligations to the district.
“We understand the community’s frustration. Our team also shares in that frustration. We are committed to ensuring our performance for Vandalia-Butler meets the expectations of the community and that our performance aligns fully with our service and safety standards,” Biddinger said. “We continue to work with the school district to improve our performance.”
Biddinger also said First Student is working with drivers and staff to address issues.
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