Between 5,000 and 10,000 Puerto Rico students, including special education students, could be left without school transportation starting Monday, November 16 if some 40 to 50 bus companies stop operating over payment delays from the Department of Education, warned José Rosado, president of the Federación de Porteadores Escolares de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico School Bus Carriers Federation). Rosado said dozens of companies may cease operations as soon as Monday because some cannot pay employees and others have had their diesel accounts closed.
Of the 225 companies providing the service, about 175 were paid for the first semester, between July and August, but 40 to 50 companies, many of those carrying the most students, are still owed since April and May. The warning came the same day Tatito Transport temporarily ceased operations over the lack of payment, leaving about 400 students without transportation.
Rosado said the owner managed to run one small bus for special education students with the fuel he had left but could not serve the regular program. Rosado said the debt to the industry totals $9.5 million through May and could exceed $30 million including September and October. He said the situation stems from budget problems and the government’s new financial system, known as ERP.
He said agencies have blamed each other, with government officials saying the money is identified and they are waiting on the Oversight Board, while the board’s executive director said last week he was waiting for the Office of Management and Budget (OGP) to send the paperwork. Rosado said he has been in the industry 32 years and this is the first time he has seen this.
The federation was to meet with the Federación de Maestros on Wednesday to define next steps, following up on last week’s demonstration, and Rosado did not rule out going to court.