Starting later this month, special Education students on St. Croix will get to school on Vitran, months after the Department of Education ended its relationship with a private busing company.
Abramson Enterprises, which also provides regular public school bus service on St. Croix, and the DOE are in litigation over the special education bus service, said DOE spokeswoman June Archibald late last week. At the end of November the DOE announced that transportation for special education students, which was being provided by Abramson Enterprises, was being discontinued.
At that point, Education officials advised parents to find alternative means of transport, such as taxis, and then submit receipts to the department for reimbursement.
While Archibald declined to comment on the lawsuit, a union leader who represents Abramson’s special education bus drivers said the company was seeking back payment for busing students since the beginning of school in August. Abramson officials weren’t immediately available for comment Monday.
Meanwhile, Archibald said the Department of Public Works, which operates Vitran, will take over transporting special education students to their schools.
"The arrangement is they’ll be transported to and from home," Archibald said, adding that she wasn’t sure how many students need bus service. "I don’t know because it varies. Some are transported by their parents. Because of that I don’t have an exact number."
In order for students to use the new Vitran service and schedule pick ups, they need a current bus pass, Archibald said. To have a pass issued, parents should take their children to see Ms. Francella Tonge at the Public Works Office at Anna’s Hope on Monday, Jan. 3 through Jan. 5 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.
