1. Purpose and Scope
This Emergency Operations Plan provides a comprehensive framework for responding to a system-wide disruption of yellow bus services for New York City Public Schools. The plan addresses the operational emergency stemming from potential mass layoffs of drivers by bus companies, which would significantly impact transportation access.
Designed to protect educational access and student well-being, it establishes clear protocols for implementing alternative transportation, coordinating multi-agency support, and communicating with families. The scope encompasses all phases of the disruption - from proactive monitoring and pre-positioning of resources before a stoppage, through the full activation of alternative services, to the eventual restoration of normal yellow bus operations. Particular attention is given to ensuring equitable access for our most vulnerable students, including students with disabilities, students in temporary housing, and those in foster care. This plan applies to all eligible students in public, charter, and non-public schools.
2. Key Objectives
The plan's primary objectives focus on maintaining safe student transportation and minimizing disruption to the educational mission.
- Safety & Security: Ensuring all alternative transportation methods, including public transit and rideshare options, are safe and reliable for students and their families.
- Communication: Establishing reliable, multi-channel communication systems to keep all stakeholders informed with timely and accurate information.
- Instructional Continuity: Maintaining high student attendance and punctuality by ensuring all students can get to school, preserving the instructional day.
- Essential Services: Sustaining transportation as a critical support service, with prioritized, door-to-door options for students with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. This includes providing clear guidance and support for families navigating reimbursement processes
3. Roles and Responsibilities
- Decision-Making Authority: The Chancellor, in consultation with the Mayor's Office, retains ultimate authority for all significant operational decisions, including the official activation of this plan and the approval of major expenditures.
- Incident Commander: Oversees the comprehensive response effort through activation and management of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
- Logistics Teams: Manage the distribution of free OMNY cards to schools and the operational rollout of the rideshare voucher and reimbursement programs.
- Operations Staff: Coordinate with the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT), district offices, and schools to identify affected routes and implement alternative solutions. School-based Transportation Coordinators should serve as the primary point of contact for families to find the best option for their child.
- Public Information Officer (PIO): Coordinates all internal and external communications, including direct family notifications, website updates, and media relations, using standardized messaging protocols.
- Agency Liaisons: The EOC will facilitate interagency coordination and resource deployment with NYCEM, MTA and TLC. A dedicated support function for 311 should be established to handle citywide inquiries.
4. Response Procedures
- Initial Response (Enhanced Monitoring):
- Activation of the EOC to an enhanced monitoring level 48 hours prior to a potential stoppage.
- Pre-positioning of OMNY cards at all schools.
- Verification of student eligibility for prioritized services (IEP/504, temporary housing, foster care). This includes identifying students with "stop-to-school" and "curb-to-school" service designations.
- Ongoing Operations (Full Activation):
- Escalation to full EOC activation upon confirmation of a service disruption.
- Execution of mass communication to families via robocall, text, and email. Notifications will be sent to the contact information on file with the school and in the NYC Schools Account (NYCSA).
- Should launch a dedicated website and activate a family support hotline.
- Distribution of OMNY cards to both the student and one caregiver for stop-to-school and curb-to-school students and deployment of rideshare vouchers to pre-identified eligible families.
- Activation of the reimbursement protocol for eligible families, with a defined maximum of $100 per one-way trip ($200 round trip) and a one-year submission deadline.
- Continuous monitoring of public transit capacity and student attendance data.
- Recovery Phase:
- Stand down of alternative services as yellow bus routes are restored.
- Processing of any outstanding family reimbursement claims.
- Conducting a full after-action review.
5. Communication Plan
A multi-layered communication strategy ensures timely and accurate information reaches all stakeholders.
- Immediate alerts to staff and principals utilize group messaging platforms and official directives.
- Families receive notifications through multiple channels: robocalls, texts, NYCSA emails, and social media updates from @NYCSchools. The first point of contact for family questions will be the School Transportation Coordinator, with 311 as a secondary citywide resource.
- The Public Information Office serves as the central hub for coordinating all public messaging and media inquiries.
- The plan mandates the use of pre-approved messaging templates in multiple languages to ensure consistent, reliable communication. There should be a dedicated public website as a single source for all information, including OMNY details, reimbursement forms, and FAQs. All communications will emphasize partnership and acknowledge the challenge a disruption poses to families.
6. Relocation and Resources
- While physical relocation of schools is not required, the "relocation" of transportation services is managed through a resource-based approach.
- Resource Inventory: The Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) should maintain an inventory of available alternative resources, including OMNY card stocks, active rideshare voucher allocations, and if available, city fleet vehicles through DCAS. For rideshare, the primary vendor will be listed, with a dedicated phone line for booking and support.
- Transportation Coordination: OPT, which oversees the logistics of alternative transport, will assist with special accommodation for students with disabilities through Access-A-Ride and accessible rideshare options. Eligibility for rideshare and reimbursement is strictly defined for Students with Disabilities (IEP/504), Students in Temporary Housing, Foster Care, and those with approved medical exceptions.
- Student Safety: Specific protocols should be in place to verify rideshare trips and ensure student safety during alternative commutes, with designated school staff responsible for tracking attendance and following up on absences. Reimbursement for private rideshare or personal vehicle use requires detailed documentation (vendor name, trip details, total cost) and will not cover taxes or tips.
7. Training and Preparedness
- Annual training should take place for designated district personnel on the protocols outlined in this plan to support and train schools, especially Transportation Coordinators.
- Annual tabletop exercises to simulate various disruption scenarios, including the rollout of OMNY and rideshare systems.
- Schools should conduct quarterly verification of emergency family contact information in NYCSA to ensure communication reach. Families should be consistently reminded to update their contact information in their NYCSA.
- Pre-negotiated contracts with rideshare partners and the MTA ensure resources can be deployed rapidly when needed.
8. After-Action Review
Following the resolution of the transportation disruption:
- The Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with NYCPS leadership, should convene a debrief session within 72 hours of stand-down.
- The review will examine communication effectiveness, decision-making processes, resource deployment efficiency, and the equitable impact on all student populations. It will also assess the performance of the reimbursement process and the effectiveness of the School Transportation Coordinator role.
- Findings will inform annual updates to this plan, ensuring continuous improvement of response capabilities for future operational emergencies.