Framingham Still Paying For School Buses Amid Coronavirus Closure

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Workers across Massachusetts and the nation are heading into uncertain times as closures related to the new coronavirus take a toll on the economy.

But in Framingham, the school district will continue to pay for school bus service even though students will be out of school until early April. Framingham Schools Director of Finance and Operations Lincoln Lynch said the district wants bus drivers to continue getting paid during that time.

"Even though the drivers are not district employees, we consider them to be such an important part of our student’s experiences here at Framingham Public Schools and value them as if they were our employees," Lynch said on Saturday.

Framingham closed schools on Wednesday after a Potter Park parent tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. Since then, Gov. Charlie Baker has ordered all schools remain closed until at least April 7.

Framingham will not make up school days missed during the closure, but will still pay Durham School Services, Framingham's bus provider, for a full 180 days of service.

Durham has confirmed that it will pay bus drivers for the duration of the three-week school closure in Massachusetts.

"We are all in this together, and we will ensure that our drivers get paid through this three week-closure," Durham spokesman Edward Flavin said. "We think the world of our drivers, and we realize that we would not be able to conduct our business without them and their support."