Lack of A/C on school buses a concern for New York special-needs students

NEW YORK — Last week’s heat wave had summer school administrators and parents concerned for students traveling on school buses without air conditioning for long periods of time, particularly those with special needs, Crain’s New York Business reports.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory until Thursday of last week that temperatures would climb into the 90s, according to the newspaper. New York City's Office of Pupil Transportation issued a warning that even buses equipped with some air conditioning can only cool the vehicle 15 to 20 degrees below the outside temperature and some students who are sensitive to the heat may be better off not taking the bus, Crain’s New York Business reports.

A memo sent to parents of students of Gillen Brewer School, which teaches special-needs students, warned that the children may be riding a bus without air conditioning for as long as two hours, according to the newspaper. Additionally, city officials told Joe Surak, the school’s director of admissions, that students “are not entitled to A/C” unless it is included in their individualized education plan, Crain’s New York Business reports.

A state department of education spokesman told the newspaper that about 86% of the state’s special-needs bus routes have air conditioning.  

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