District 68, 99 Discussing Westway's Financial Consequences

and officials said this week they continue to work with Westway Coach, Inc. to correct issues and are considering how best to pursue financial sanctions they're entitled to in their contracts.

Some missed pick-ups and late buses continued Tuesday, according to Patrick Broncato, assistant superintendent of personnel for District 68. However, there are fewer in the third week of school than there were in the first two, he said.

Broncato said District 68 continued to work with Westway in refining routes and making adjustments where needed.

District 99 made a similar report. "Fortunately, the timeliness and accuracy of the routes at both schools have continued to improve," District 99 Communications Director Jill Browning wrote in an e-mail.

While administrators from both districts rode buses and followed routes during the first two weeks of school, that practice seems to have lessened.

An administrator rode one problematic bus route Wednesday morning, Browning said. District officials would continue to ride bus routes as needed, she said.

In terms of financial compensation, Broncato said the district can recoup money for late buses, incorrect routes and missed routes per its contract with Westway. District 99 can do the same.

The district can receive 10 percent back for a late bus, 25 pecent back for an incorrect route (like a missed pick-up) and 100 percent back for a route where no bus showed up.

Broncato said officials were reviewing their records to tally up each of the offenses. He didn't know when the district would make its claim against Westway.

Browning said District 99 administrators are reviewing the best action to take in regards to financial sanctions for poor bus service.

It's the third week of the bus service saga in which hundreds of students in both districts have been affected. Buses have skipped stops, skipped entire routes, dropped off students to school late and dropped them back home hours after school ended.

Westway blamed incorrect routes that were generated after the company incorrectly processed information it received from the districts. That resulted in drivers and parents having different schedules.

Corrected routes were given to drivers last week.