Sound Familiar: Safety Regulation Means High School Transportation Costs (in Dubai)

This from the Nation's Press: Recent regulations of school buses in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, are sending the cost of school bus service "through the roof," the Gulf News reported. Schools are worried about the cost of the safety regulations and one has reportedly cut a number of buses to stay in budget. The principal told the paper:

"We are really worried about the fee increase because ours has always been an affordable school. But the overhaul and maintenance of school buses as per the RTA regulations are going to be too expensive for the school to afford."

Parents are worried, too. They said they don't like the idea of having to pick up the added cost of the safety regulation.

"I have three children going to school from next year and that means, I have to cough up around Dh10,000 [approx: $2,722.2 USD] alone as school transportation charges."

Drivers Get No Raise; "I think we're all in this recession together"

From our Nation's Press: Totman Enterprises, the contractor that serves schools in Marshfield, Mass., turned down pay raises for its 25 employees in order to reduce its contract price by $100,000 and avoid instituting a transportation fee. Martha Totman, the owner of the company told WickedLocal.com:

"I think we’re all in this recession together, and in order to get out of it, we have to get out of it together ... My drivers are terrific people and most live in Marshfield, and this affects us all. With the lack of stability in our school system, it’s hard when you don’t know whether you’re going to have a job or programs cut. And we hoped we could make it a little easier"

What's going on where you live? Are you getting COLA increases? Raises? Pink slips?