OUR VIEW: Safe buses a priority

Staff Reports
Niagara Gazette

May 18, 2008 01:08 am

— It’s generally a good idea for government agencies and entities to contract out for services. It avoids the bloated payrolls and inefficient operations generally associated with government. The job often gets done better and cheaper.
But contracting out rather than performing functions in house only works when there’s proper oversight by the government agency. That’s the pickle that the Niagara Falls Board of Education finds itself in when it comes to its school transportation operation.
Unlike some districts that run their own bus systems, the Falls district has a contract with Niagara Falls Coach Lines, Inc. The working relationship between the district and the bus company has existed for decades and has, for the most part, been a good one for the district, the company and for the students being transported.
But now the relationship has hit a rough patch. The state Transportation Department recently grounded 13 buses for various inspections violations. Niagara Falls Coach Lines President Michael Dowd denied the buses were unsafe and said the violations were for relatively mild infractions.
But a DOT spokeswoman told the Gazette the violations were safety violations involving bald tires and problems with brakes. We know that when our cars fail a safety inspection they have to be repaired and brought up to standards in a timely manner. We expect Niagara Falls Coach Lines to do the same. It is that much more important because of what those buses carry: School children.
It’s understood that the company needs to make a profit under the terms of its contract with the school board. But that profit cannot be at the expense of the safety of Niagara Falls students.
Where is the district in all this? No problem, says School Superintendent Carmen Granto. “The system’s working,” he said.
We disagree. The condition of the school buses should never deteriorate to the point where they have to be pulled off the road. A regular maintenance schedule needs to be in place to make sure of that.
Granto says the contract with Niagara Falls Coach Lines will be up for renewal in two years. That’s enough time for the district to redouble its oversight: Put the bus company on probation. If there’s another lapse when it comes to safety, the district should seriously consider contracting with another company. The safety of our students demands nothing less.