Special needs student transport criticized

Kings Schools Transportation Authority should give itself an F for the way it is running transportation services for special needs students, according to a grand jury report released Monday. The authority -- a joint powers entity formed in 2004 by all 14 school districts in Kings County -- has basically "ignored" earlier grand jury recommendations in 2005, resulting in lack of oversight, lack of a formal complaint procedure and lack of effective monitoring of the contractor to ensure safety of pupils, the report concluded. Other findings included public meetings without proper notification and a gap between policies and practice.