The threat of a bus strike in Las Cruces (N.M.) Public Schools could affect its high school athletic teams, which may have to forfeit without transportation to events.
Las Cruces Public Schools does not hire bus drivers and instead contracts them through a private company, El Paso, Texas, TV station KVIA reported. (El Paso is about 45 miles south of Las Cruces.) A local union represents the drivers, who are threatening to strike due to overcrowded buses and the lack of enough sick days, among other concerns.
The Las Cruces district has four high schools that participate in athletics. Baseball, softball, golf, tennis and track and field teams and their opposing schools could be affected by a possible strike.
“We’ll have to let them know that our teams traveling that day are not traveling, most likely forfeit the contest,” Las Cruces Public Schools Athletic Director Earnest Viramontes told KVIA. “Then I’ve got to notify all the schools we are going to visit to make sure they understand we’re not coming.”
The district, which has a policy against parents driving their kids to away events, also does not want to rent out charter buses, KVIA reported.
Bus service went uninterrupted for Las Cruces students on Wednesday morning. Parents of Las Cruces students are encouraged to check the school district’s website for updates.
