NEW YORK – In the first four months of the 2007-08 school year, New York City school buses have been cited for more safety violations than the preceding school year.
Unlike previous years, Department of Education (DOE) officials have taken steps to make surprise inspections. The DOE now conducts announced and unannounced inspections. According to stories from the Daily News, bus companies had been receiving tips about surprise evaluations. Bus companies have denied any knowledge.
According to DOE spokesman David Cantor, the increase in violations displays how the DOE has become more aggressive in managing inspections and how the revised inspection procedures are working.
Since September, officials have recorded more than 12,000 violations. In the 2006-07 school year, inspectors logged 10,100 violations throughout the year. In 2005-06, there were 9,600.
If the number of violations continues to increase, the department has projected as many as 30,000 violations by the end of the school year.
