[UPDATED December, 2015 | 9:30 a.m.] A report that school bus drivers who transport students for Pasadena Unified, Alhambra Unified and Glendale Unified did not get paid Friday has been verified by First Student bus company Pasadena Dispatcher Alfonso Gassino.
Gassino said the “checks didn’t make it to the UPS truck and they are scheduled to arrive Monday.”
Chris Kemper, a spokesperson for First School, immediately returned a call from this news organization and ultimately said Saturday afternoon that the company’s Pasadena manager collected the checks at UPS that day and the company was contacting all drivers to come in to the yards to collect their pay.
One driver who wishes to remain anonymous said that many drivers were upset, some reportedly saying they won’t or can’t work on Monday without the pay.
“They told us checks were on the way, and would be here between 3-5 p.m. [Friday]. A lot of drivers stayed and waited but checks did not arrive,” the driver said.
Mercy Santoro, Associate Superintendent of School Support Services for Pasadena Unified, said by email that PUSD is aware of the situation and is monitoring developments. Santoro said a backup plan has been developed.