A school bus company where a noose was found is ending its contract with St. Louis Public Schools
A school bus company will terminate its contract with St. Louis Public Schools a year early
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A school bus company will terminate its contract with St. Louis Public Schools a year early, bringing an end to a relationship strained after a noose was found near the workstation of a Black mechanic and an ensuing driver walkout that snarled bus service for one of Missouri's largest school systems.
Missouri Central School Bus Co. notified Mayor Tishaura Jones and the Missouri Office of Workforce Development in a letter dated Tuesday that the end of the contract would mean the loss of 332 jobs.
Missouri Central's contract with the school district, which includes about 19,600 students, was supposed to run through the 2024-25 school year, but the company had an opt-out clause. Bus service will end effective June 30, after the end of the current school year.
“Unfortunately, and despite good faith efforts by both sides, the parties were unable to negotiate mutually agreeable terms,” the company said in its letter. A spokesman declined further comment.
