A school bus company has decided to terminate its contract with St. Louis Public Schools a year early due to strained relations after a noose was found near the workstation of a Black mechanic and an ensuing driver walkout. The company, Missouri Central School Bus Co., has notified Mayor Tishaura Jones and the Missouri Office of Workforce Development that this decision will result in the loss of 332 jobs. The original contract was meant to run through the 2024-25 school year, but the company had an opt-out clause, ending bus service effective June 30, after the current school year. This decision comes after failed negotiations to address industry inflation and a nationwide school bus driver shortage.
In February, mechanic Amin Mitchell found a noose at his workstation, which he believed was meant to intimidate him after expressing concerns about bus brakes. This incident led to at least 100 drivers, members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, stopping work, causing disruption to bus service. Local NAACP leaders called for a hate crime investigation, although none has been announced. Missouri Central has stated that they are waiting on a final report regarding the noose incident and had intended to bring in a third party to investigate. The company has stated that the racism allegations have caused irreparable harm to their reputation and they can no longer work with St. Louis Public Schools.
The district has reported that Missouri Central has failed to meet staffing and timely transportation goals for three consecutive semesters. This, along with the racism allegations, has led to their decision to terminate the contract early. St. Louis Public Schools will now begin seeking a new vendor for busing services, hoping that many Missouri Central drivers will be hired by the new vendor to continue transporting students. While the school district is disappointed by the termination of the contract, they are determined to ensure that bus services for their approximately 19,600 students will continue without interruption. The company has expressed a desire to work with the district to find a solution for the students despite the decision to end the contract.
Despite good faith efforts by both parties, negotiations to continue the contract were unable to reach mutually agreeable terms. Missouri Central requested an additional $2 million from the school district to address industry inflation and a shortage of bus drivers. The company states that they have tried to negotiate with the district but were ultimately unable to come to terms. The decision to end the contract early marks the end of a strained relationship between Missouri Central and St. Louis Public Schools, culminating in the company’s decision to terminate the contract in order to protect their reputation and business interests.
As the school bus company ends its contract with St. Louis Public Schools, the district is left to scramble to find a new vendor to provide bus services to students. This unexpected turn of events has left many drivers without jobs and has raised concerns about the future of bus transportation for students in the area. Despite the challenges brought about by this decision, district leaders are determined to find a new vendor that can deliver safe and reliable transportation for their students. The termination of the contract highlights the importance of effective communication and collaboration between school districts and service providers to ensure the well-being and safety of students.
