“This is a positive sign, and there is now greater optimism that on the first day of school, more than 30,000 students and their families will be able to count on having a safe and reliable ride to school,” STEO stated in a news release issued Monday evening.“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the school bus companies and to continue the positive relationships we have built over many years, for the foreseeable future,” said Janet Murray, general manager of STEO.
Last week, STEO had issued an emergency tender to bring in outside busing companies for the start of the school year. Frank Healey, president of Healey Transportation and spokesperson for the Eastern Ontario Bus Operators Association, had said last week the emergency tender to bring in new companies would be nearly impossible to co-ordinate in time for school to start.
“This has been a long process, but I know our drivers will be happy they will be out on the first day of school, greeting familiar faces and playing such an important role for kids across our communities,” Healey was quoted as saying in the news release issued by STEO on Monday. “I want to thank STEO for continuing to work with us to reach an agreement, and I look forward to another four years of working together for students and their families.
STEO, in charge of managing student busing for the Upper Canada District School Board and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, and its existing 19 bus companies had started negotiations in March, but talks had come to a standstill last week, Murray said at that time.