Patrick Burke, who represents New York’s 7th District in Erie County, said school buses should have student-teacher ratios similar to those in classrooms, reports WBFO News.
The South Buffalo Democrat wants school bus attendants mandated on all school buses and report to the health department on public safety improvements, following the Nov. 4 death of 7-year-old Alyssa Hearn in Springville. She was reportedly struck by her school bus and pinned underneath. She died later that day at a local hospital.
WBFO said attorneys are unsure if state law would even allow the county to mandate attendants on school buses. At the very least, Burke said he wants to see public and legislative debate on the issue.
“In schools, you have the student to teacher ratios. In day care, you have day-care assistants to children ratios. Well, in the school buses, they just pack them in there and everyone just hopes they get home okay. And, sometimes it doesn’t happen,” he said.
Burke also cited his recollections of riding school buses as a youth as well as the stories his children tell him of riding the bus.
