Photo Courtesy of Google
Little Richie Bus Service, Inc. is headquartered on Atlantic Avenue in Ozone Park.
By Michael V. Cusenza
It is one of myriad nightmares that parents try so hard to bury deep down in that overstuffed mental foot locker that every guardian has: their child not being picked up by their school bus.
In Connie Pugliese’s case, this nightmare has become reality—more often than not.
The Howard Beach mom told The Forum this week that since the first day of school, Sept. 13, her son David, 18, has been to school a grand total of three days. She has pointed her finger at Ozone Park’s Little Richie Bus Service, Inc. as the culprit.
Photo Courtesy of Google
After attending The Shield Institute in Flushing, David Pugliese is scheduled to end his school days at NYFAC in Howard Beach. He loves both facilities, his mom told The Forum.
David Pugliese is autistic. He has attended The Shield Institute on Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing since the 3rd grade; and for the past 4-5 years, David has finished his school days at the New York Families for Autistic Children facility on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach.
“He looks forward to going to both every day,” Connie said.
However, David has missed Shield more often than not this school year.
“On the first day of school, David was dressed and ready to go—but [the bus never] showed up,” Connie said. “I’m getting him dressed like a mom waiting for a chariot that doesn’t show up.”
Connie told The Forum that the first two weeks of school “were horrendous.” And since then, the bus either shows up late or not at all—at Shield or the Pugliese home. And when the bus does arrive, many of the drivers and matrons are rude and dismissive.
“I can’t do this anymore,” an exasperated Connie said. “I can’t have a knot in my stomach getting nervous all day at work thinking about him…you’re taking away something that he seriously loves to do.”
Connie Pugliese said she feels like she’s running out of options.
“I’ve never heard of a job where you show up when you want—who does that?!” she exclaimed. “At this point I’m ready to call a lawyer. My son has special needs. He needs to be in school.”
