Dear Princeton Families,
As of Friday, October 9, there is still no agreement between First Student and its employees, and the transportation stoppage continues. I am deeply disappointed that a resolution has not been reached, particularly as we are now more than a week into this disruption. One positive development is that both parties continue to negotiate in good faith, and discussions are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 13. We remain hopeful that these continued conversations will lead to a resolution that restores reliable transportation for our students.
While Princeton City Schools is not a party to these labor negotiations and cannot interfere with the collective bargaining process, we continue to advocate strongly for our students and families. The District expects First Student to fulfill its contractual obligations, and we remain in direct communication with its management regarding the urgency of this situation.
Our commitment to Every Student, Every Opportunity remains unchanged. Our schools are open, our teachers and staff continue serving students, and we are working to minimize disruptions to learning.
We also recognize that this disruption extends beyond our classrooms and directly impacts parents and guardians in their workplaces. Families are adjusting work schedules, missing work, arranging transportation, and managing significant personal and financial challenges. We understand the strain this places on our community, and we share your frustration.
Please read carefully about a new transportation for students in Grades 7-12. Families can expect additional communication over the weekend regarding potential transportation plans involving Cincinnati Metro. We are finalizing details and expect to share more soon. For Monday morning, please plan on continuing your current plan for transportation. It is Cincinnati Metro policy to only provide educational transportation for students in Grades 7-12. The District is still working on securing alternative transportation options for elementary students.
FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12: To give us a better idea of your comfortability with utilizing Cincinnati Metro, please fill out a survey by clicking here.
Parents and guardians experiencing transportation difficulties should continue contacting their child's school so we can identify barriers and help students remain connected to learning.
I sincerely thank our families for their continued patience and flexibility, and our teachers, staff, and community partners for their extraordinary efforts throughout this disruption.
We remain hopeful that Tuesday's negotiations will bring meaningful progress, and we will continue advocating for a resolution while pursuing every reasonable transportation alternative available to the District.
Our priority remains clear: Every Student, Every Opportunity.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mari Phillips
Superintendent, Princeton City School District