I worked in a self-contained classroom where the majority of my students were bused in and out daily by OSSE for 4 years. Unfortunately, based on my experience with the drivers, attendants, and the OSSE dispatch staff, this does not come as a shock.

On top of the staff being severely undertrained and under supported, there was always a shortage. Multiple times a week we would have routes 1-2 hours late to school because there were not enough drivers and attendants to complete the routes. Since these students all had IEP's, it impacted the amount of service hours they were able to recieve and OSSE couldn't have shown they cared less.

Not to mention the multiple instances of the attendants verbally abusing students, threatening families with violence if they kept complaining to OSSE, and smoking on the bus (around students with asthma). It got so bad last year, one family got permission to FaceTime their child every ride to make sure their daughter was safe on the rides home.

My students came from the most vulnerable communities and families. They rely on the transportation and when it is so spotty, many parents have to call out of work to wait with their children. The response from OSSE was almost always a big shrugg and a "what's there to do" attitude.