Local 73 Calls for Safer CPS Transportation

Every school day, thousands of Chicago Public School students board buses to get to and from school. They depend on those buses to have adequate heating and cooling to deal with extreme temperatures throughout the school year. However, that is often not the case, as Local 73 raised at the April 24 Chicago Public Schools Board of Education meeting. This is not a problem that can wait, it needs to be addressed urgently.

“We’re calling on board to set higher standards for transportation vendors before any new agreements are signed or extended,” said Trumaine Reeves, SEIU Local 73 CPS Division Director.

All 13 transportation contracts are set to expire this summer, and the current contracts only require heating and air conditioning if students’ IEP or 504 plans explicitly state that need.The current standards are not sufficient, and we need to mandate that all school buses be equipped with functioning air conditioning and heat at all times. This is not just a suggestion, it’s a necessity for our students’ safety and comfort.

“Over the past two summers, CPS had to scramble at the last minute to supply room temperature bottled water and cardboard fans to mitigate the excessive heat on busses lacking proper air conditioning,” testified Reeves. “Similarly, in the winter months, students and staff are left shivering due to the lack of heat.”

Many students relying on transportation are the most vulnerable during extreme temperatures, and non-verbal students cannot express their discomfort. This lack of adequate heating and cooling is not just an inconvenience, it’s a serious issue that affects the well-being of our students.