DOE Chancellor ‘still hopeful’ bus driver strike can be avoided before start of school year

City schools Chancellor David Banks on Friday said he’s “still hopeful” a school bus driver strike can be avoided with less than a week before the beginning of the new school year on Thursday.

Later Friday, the New York Daily News reported an official with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 — the union representing roughly half of school bus drivers and attendents — pledged there would be “no disruption” to bus service during the first week of school. But made no commiittments for the following week.