During first-day stop here, borough pupils get a visit from Doctor 'No'
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Stop asking, because the answer is no.That's the word from city Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, who says the city will not restore yellow bus service for seventh- and eighth-graders on Staten Island.
"There's something called 'like circumstances,'" Walcott told reporters outside Susan Wagner High School yesterday. "If we restore yellow buses here or restore yellow buses in the Rockways, then the entire city is entitled to that."
Walcott visited the Sea View high school as part of a five-borough tour on the first day of school for city students. His visit came as local elected officials continued their efforts to have school bus service restored here because the suburban environment and sparse public transit make getting to school without yellow buses dangerous and difficult.
Walcott, flanked by Borough President James Molinaro and Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), said he respected Island lawmakers -- but they don't see eye-to-eye on the yellow bus issue.
He said he wasn't sure exactly how much the yellowbus cuts had cost so far, but
thought it was about $3 million. But if yellow bus service is restored here, he said, it would cost much more -- because the rest of the city would be entitled to it.
Several lawmakers and Community Education Council president Sam Pirozzolo sent Walcott a letter today proposing a variance that would allow service for any student who needs to "cross a road of four lanes or more to reach the closest MTA bus stop."
Walcott said he hadn't been able to review the proposal yet and couldn't comment on it.
The "like circumstances" argument comes from a court ruling in a lawsuit filed to restore services, when a judge -- citing state education law -- ruled that if Staten Island got bus service, everyone should. But some have argued Staten Island is so unlike every other borough that it requires the service.
"We're the only borough without any public transportation alternatives that are adequate," Cusick said yesterday, adding he had met with Walcott to discus the "uniqueness" of Staten Island and the need for buses here. Cusick said he'd now look to legislation to solve the problem, or at least to fill empty spots on buses picking up sixth-graders.
Walcott also took some much lighter questions at the high school-- from students. He visited two classrooms and then sat down with members of the student government. President Debora Kim, a senior, had obviously read up on Walcott -- she brought up his history as a C-student and his experience skydiving.
"How can I, as chancellor, make your high school life better?" Walcott asked.
Miss Kim said communication was key -- it's hard to lead a school to do well when student leaders don't know the goals the chancellor has for them. Walcott said he'd look into contacting student government citywide by e-mail, with regular updates.
The students had a surprise for Walcott: A birthday card that played "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang when opened, and a "Fudgie the Whale" birthday cake from Carvel, where Miss Kim works.
Walcott thanked them, but said he doesn't eat sweets, so he would leave the cake behind for those who do.