Mass Layoff: Jacksonville School Bus Company initiates Layoffs After Losing Contract.

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Student Transportation of America (STA) has issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice, signaling the upcoming layoff of 225 employees in Jacksonville at the end of May. The layoffs, resulting from Duval County Public Schools' decision to terminate two of its contracts with STA, will predominantly affect 160 bus drivers and approximately 50 bus monitors. Durham School Services is set to assume the routes previously managed by STA.

The company outlined that the procedural step is crucial for facilitating the smooth transition of 220 bus routes to a new transportation provider for the 2024-2025 academic year. Despite the layoffs, STA assured that it would continue to operate more than 440 student routes in the upcoming year, with no current student routes for the 2023-2024 school year being affected.

STA also mentioned that affected employees would have the opportunity to relocate to other STA locations within the local area. The company expressed optimism about retaining a significant number of its workforce by reallocating operational staff and drivers to other terminals in Duval. STA reaffirmed its dedication to meeting the transportation needs of local families and supporting the community through this transition.