Mar 2026
Updates are expected, visit often!
Calendar of Events (check pistnyc.org/events/mar-2026 weekly for event flyers in languages)
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Thursday March 5 4:30-7:30 p.m. Feria de Recursos y Presentación de Proyectos Estudiantiles
Resource Fair and Student Project Presentation at Bronx Academy for Software Engineering. RSVP 646.350.0065, Karen@northwestbronx.org Ask for PTA / PIST leader Milagros C.
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Conversations with Chancellor Kamar Samuels in multiple boroughs
Saturdays March 7, 14, 24, and April 11 each from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Tuesdays March 10, 17, 24 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Monday March 23 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Register in advance & please bring up busing!
Contact pistnyc@gmail.com to meet up on 3/14 in mid Manhattan and possibly other ones
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Sunday March 8 = International Working Women’s Day
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Monday March 9 7:00 p.m. = Citywide Council on Special Education (CCSE)
Virtual Busing and Transportation Committee
Reminder: CCSE represents students with IEPs at all type of schools
Register in advance for this meeting:https://zoom.us/meeting/register/QU3_sJYBRtKrY4av51dmvg
Interpretation: Mandarin Dial-in 347-966-4114 Phone conference ID: 848 459 084#
Spanish Dial-in 347-966-4114 Phone conference ID: 524 822 685#
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Friday March 13, 11 am - 1 pm
Disability Resource fair - including info about MTA Reduced Fare
Fort Hamilton Brooklyn Public Library branch
For more information, call 718.264.5084 or email bfssac@yahoo.com
Contact pistnyc@gmail.com if you wish to bring busing rights resources there
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Friday March 13 PIST strategy meeting 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Focus on: building awareness & unity around student transportation justice
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82470154849?pwd=EkGoVlJygHnxz7MZPqMQC2OT5x0tK1.1
Meeting ID: 824 7015 4849 Passcode: 937177
Enter the waiting room and make your name clear. Questions: pistnyc@gmail.com
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Monday March 16 - all day - bus trip to Albany with United Federation of Teachers
Lobby for education priorities and funding
Parents welcomed but no students - meet at your borough’s UFT office
https://cvent.me/GOy4xd?RefId=Parent
Please bring PIST flyers or get some on arrival: 631.743.6296
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Tuesday March 17 St. Patrick’s Day PIST office hours zoom NOTE EARLIER TIME 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Information exchange about routes and events
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Friday March 20 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Electric School Bus Expo with info about grants for companies
At NYCSBUS Greenpoint depot, 297 Norman Ave, Brooklyn NY 12222
Email address for more information: lauren@empirecleancities.org
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Monday March 23 at City Hall, Manhattan
9:30 a.m. inside Education Committee Hearing on next school year’s BUDGET starts with DOE remarks
1:30 p.m. outside-RALLY FOR EDUCATION FUNDING! With Coalition for Equitable Education Funding
At 2:30 p.m. inside - public testimony starts
Advice for testifying is at https://advocatesforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/how_to_testify.pdf
Flyer for rally with QR code if you wish to register and receive reminders from the organizers.
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Also Monday March 23 but at 4:30 for those who have school/work in the daytime
Transportation Alternatives Youth Activist Committee will be hosting a rally for Expand Student OMNY
after the hearing, over at City Hall PARK which you can enter from Broadway or Park Row
These students have been helping us make the point that the current OMNY program for learning from the cultural richness of NYC totally leaves out 150,000 students who use the bus for school transportation.
For more about this campaign, read their sign-on letter at forms.gle/7UJEyZiiw6m662YWA
Flyer for the Rally to Expand Student OMNY
Tuesday March 24 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Substitute Paraprofessional hiring event for Manhattan CUNY students
P721M, 250 West Houston St, NY NY 10014
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Tuesday March 24, 2026 07:00 PM
Beyond Access webinar: A Parent’s Guide to Summer Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
Learn about Extended School Year, Summer Rising, Transportation accommodations, how the Summer Rising Accommodation Plan is created, etcetera. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k0iCm8DOR3SCbjjuQa-Sdg#/registration
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Wednesday March 25 at 6:00 p.m.
Monthly NYCPS/Mayoral Panel for Educational Policy meeting High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology (350 67th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11220).
Contracts Agenda includes 2 more months of emergency school bus vendor extensions!
Resolution on Expanding Student OMNY will be voted on: https://nycdoe.sharepoint.com/sites/PEPArchive/Shared%20Documents/PEP/2025-2026/03-25-2026%20(March%2025,%202026)/Resolution%20in%20Support%20of%20Fare-Free%20and%20Equitable%20Public%20Transit%20for%20ALL%20NYC%20Students.pdf
School Utilization proposals include 3 District 75 co-locations.
THE PUBLIC CAN TESTIFY by signing up between 5:30-6:15 the same day at https://learndoe.org/pep/mar25 and attending in person.
Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Arabic.
Or submit written testimony in advance as explained at https://www.pistnyc.org/resources/pep-comment-steps
**NOTE** We are also 3 months away from expiration of contract for the Nagarro Call Center (OPT phone line), and 5 months away from expiration of Via tracking / routing. STAY TUNED FOR CHANCES TO SPEAK YOUR MIND
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Monday March 30 at 6 p.m. Virtual
Busing Issues Committee of the Citywide Council for District 75
Zoom ID 983 8623 3820 PassCode 859083
Interpretation available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Bangla - flyers below
Flyers in 4 languages for 2025-26 school year meetings of this committee with QR code to register.
Remaining dates are March 30, April 27, June 15.
Busing during upcoming half days
schools.nyc.gov/calendar lists the following changes for public schools in March. Please double check with both the school and the bus team in advance to avoid mishaps. Some school staff use their option to vote for a different plan than what’s on the website. Read and ASK.
Note that since OPT often mixes school level and type on bus routes: Any schools that are open while others have a day off or shortened are entitled to normal bus pickup if their calendar was submitted to OPT by the deadline. In real life the logistics may be tricky so COMMUNICATE and use your judgement. Good luck!
Parent teacher conferences leading to early dismissal:
Thursday March 5, non district 75 elementary, pre-K and K-8 or prek-8
Thursday March 12, middle school (6-8) and most district 75 sites
Thursday March 19, non district 75 high school (9-12) and K-12, 6-12 schools
Friday March 20, public schools (and Muslim schools if any are served by OPT) are closed for Eid al-Fitr.