School District's Bus Company to Cease Operations by Year's End

The East Meadow School District's current bus company, Atlantic Express, has filed for bankruptcy and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has identified Logan Bus Company as the transporter who will take over the district's bus contract, according to a Dec. 20 letter Superintendent of Schools Louis DeAngelo sent to the community.

The 40-year-old bus company will cease operations by year's end after failed union negotiations. Logan Bus Company has been providing bus transportation to children throughout New York City since 1970.

"By assuming our district, as well as other large Nassau County school districts, they will become a presence on Long Island. They have indicated that they will be maintaining one of their depots in Oceanside," DeAngelo states in the letter.

"While we have not received a firm deadline for this transition to take place, we have been operating under the premise that we expect the Logan Bus Company to be transporting our students upon our return from the holiday break, Monday, Jan. 6."

DeAngelo said school personnel are working closely with bus company representatives to "make the transition as smooth as possible."

"Logan has assured us that it will do everything possible to maintain the same bus drivers and other support personnel whom we have come to know and to rely upon," DeAngelo said.

All routes, as well as pick up and drop off times, will remain exactly the same. The Atlantic Express logo seen on most of the district's buses will be replaced with the emblem, "Guardian," DeAngelo said.

"While this was an unexpected, quick turn of events, I am confident that we have made our expectations clear to the management within the Logan Bus Company and they are well aware that safety is our highest priority," the letter further read.

Call the district's transportation office (478-5772/5771) or the office of the assistant superintendent for Business and Finance (478-5737) with any questions.