Eighty-seven special-education students in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District use taxicabs for transportation to and from school.
The district saves about $100,000 a year by using trained cabbies rather than buses provided by Los Angeles County.
The district, which spends $750,000 for the service, shifted to cabs three years ago because they cost less and arrive on time, Superintendent Walker Williams said.
“It saved us a few bucks, it’s a little bit more reliable, and we get less complaints,”Williams said.“It’s a win-win for us.”
The district signs year-to-year contracts with Gardena-based Administrative Service Co-Op. Taxi drivers must complete extra training to handle behavior outbursts.
“These kids vary in their own behavior. Some of them are hyper, some are quiet,” driver Sammy Fadle said.
Project manager Joe Viera said drivers undergo sensitivity training, background checks similar to teachers and random drug testing.
School districts must provide transportation to students with handicaps that prevent them from walking to school.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 17, 2006. Read the original PDF.