Superintendent warns of possible bus-driver strike affecting about 84 routes; district not party to negotiations
Summary
Superintendent Bedell told the board two private bus contractors — R.E. Wilson Bus Company and Annapolis Bus Company — were negotiating and that about 84 routes could be impacted by a strike; AACPS said it is not a negotiating party and urged resolution while noting it may not be able to cover all affected routes if a strike occurs.
Superintendent Dr. Bedell briefed the board on negotiations between two private bus contractors and the potential impact of a strike on school transportation.
Bedell corrected an earlier naming error and identified the company involved as R.E. Wilson Bus Company (not Wilson Bus Company) and said Annapolis Bus Company was the second contractor involved. “We have about 84 routes that would be impacted,” he said, adding that the district believed it could cover some but not all routes in the event of a strike. Bedell emphasized that AACPS is not a party to the labor negotiations and urged the contractors and negotiators to reach agreement so students would not be “caught in the middle.”
He told the board that district staff had received “some promising news” that negotiations were moving in the right direction but warned that “there is going to be some pain if a strike occurs.” The superintendent said the district would keep the community apprised of developments; no operational vote or mitigation plan was recorded in the transcript for this meeting.
