(Poway, CA) – Poway Unified School District officials have told the district’s bus drivers, who are represented by SEIU Local 221, that they will have jobs for the upcoming school year. The district has sold enough bus passes, combined with the fundraising efforts of the Poway Foundation and the bus drivers themselves, to keep regular education transportation for Poway Unified students.

The Poway Unified School Board voted in May to eliminate regular education transportation and the district sent layoff notices to 35 bus drivers in June. However, the board stipulated that if enough bus passes could be sold, at a higher cost, the bus routes could be saved. The bus drivers have been working with the community to raise funds to offset the increased cost of bus passes for students.

“All of us, the parents, the bus drivers and the community, worked very hard to make sure those bus passes were sold and regular education transportation continued,” said Chuck Lord, President of the Poway Chapter of SEIU Local 221. “We are so happy that our kids have a safe way to school this year.”

“Our bus drivers are amazing people who exemplify the value of public service,” SEIU Local 221 Interim President Eric Banks said. “From the very beginning they were more worried about how Poway students were going to get to school than losing their jobs. I commend our bus drivers and the community for working so hard together to raise the funds to save our bus routes.”

 The final decision on reinstating the bus drivers is expected to take place at the Poway Unified School Board meeting on August 16, 2010.