S. Allegheny loses school bus service

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

South Allegheny School District Superintendent Dr. Lisa Duval confirmed Friday evening that Sun Coach Lines has terminated its transportation agreement with the district, leaving it without school bus service.

As a result, all SA students will attend school virtually starting Monday.

In a release Friday night, the district said families will be notified “as soon as new information is available as to how they will receive their education next week.”

“We will take all actions necessary to minimize the negative educational impact of the unilateral actions of Sun Coach in terminating student transportation services with no advance notice,” the SA stated. “Until the issues with Sun Coach are resolved, alternative transportation is currently being coordinated for all non-public and special education transportation, and the students and families affected by these services will be notified immediately when the alternative transportation is confirmed.”

Sun Coach Lines’ attorney, Derek Illar of Eckert Seamans, did not respond to requests for comment prior to presstime, but a press release that Duval said was issued to some area media outlets by Sun Coach Lines owner David I.L. Sunstein has been circulating on social media outlets.

That release states that the transportation agreement has been terminated because the district failed to make more than $800,000 in payments that were agreed upon for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

Sunstein alleges that SA hasn’t made payments for 10 months.

The company’s release states that Sun Coach and SA agreed to have the transportation company satisfy all the district’s transportation needs for “a set amount of compensation.”

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