UPDATED at 7:30 p.m. Thursday:
Olathe drivers voted to approve their new contract with First Student. Olathe drivers will not strike, but the other three districts still face a possible bus driver strike on Friday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Your child’s ride to school Friday could depend on a vote Thursday by Olathe bus drivers.
Drivers in three other districts – Center, Mo.; Park Hill, Mo.; and Blue Valley, Kan. – have already voted to reject contract offers and approved a strike.
Previously published versions of this and other stories on this topic had omitted the Center School District and incorrectly stated the Grandview School District was among those that may strike.
Olathe drivers are expected to follow suit in their vote, and if they do, a strike could start as early as Friday.
The 800 drivers all work for First Student School Bus Service and are represented by Teamsters Local 838. They transport nearly 20,000 students to and from school each day.
The union issued a statement Thursday afternoon in which they say the drivers and the union "are calling on the company to end more than a year of difficult negotiations marked by company stall tactics."
A spokesperson for First Student says, "We are disappointed that the Teamsters Local 838 has decided to release a statement while we are still in discussions with them.
"We believe the compensation and benefits package we have offered our employees is a fair proposal that is competitive with the market in this area," said Glenda Lamont from First Student.
She went on to say, "We have the greatest respect for our employees and the job they do every day."
How Will Districts Cope with a Strike?
Park Hill officials have announced they will not cancel any classes or close schools if drivers strike. They will rely on parents to make transportation arrangements for their children. The only significant impact could be on extracurricular activities like field trips and sports.
Officials in Center, Blue Valley and Olathe districts say they, too, plan to keep schools open even if drivers go on strike.
Officials with the YMCA of Kansas City say their before and after school programs in the Olathe and Blue Valley districts are prepared to help care for additional students who may need care outside of school hours.
The YMCA will charge a fee for the care. They operate before and after school programs at several school sites.
Parents and guardians can get details and paperwork needed to arrange for care on the
YMCA’s Web site.
