By Mary O’KEEFE

The bus strike that has affected Glendale Unified School District continues with no end in sight, according to GUSD and the First Student bus company.

The bus drivers for First Student walked off the job on Thursday, catching GUSD off guard.

“We knew they were in negotiations,” said Kristine Nam, spokeswoman for GUSD. “We were told things were going well.”

“We were caught off guard, too,” said First Student spokesman Jay Brock.

Nam said the district was informed of the strike Thursday morning moments before the kids were to board the buses.

“We operated with no buses,” she said.

“It was quite abrupt; we were not aware of [the strike],” Brock said.

He added First Student understands the challenge schools are dealing with as students are left without bus transportation. The strike affects school buses in Glendale, Pasadena and Alhambra school districts. In Glendale, students who attend Clark Magnet High School, are on sports teams and are special needs students are all directly affected by the walk out.

Nam said a few drivers crossed the picket lines on Thursday to help transport children. Those drivers would pick up or drop off students and go back for more, but there was not a set schedule.

Brock added negotiations are still in progress but has no timeline for the end of the strike.

GUSD administrators are now working on a temporary solution.

“We are trying to work on [securing] charter buses,” Nam said.

Parents are filling the gaps by taking kids to school but this has been difficult for some as many parents work and some have no transportation options. Administrators are being lenient when it comes to students who arrive late or are absent due to the strike.

The effects of the strike are being felt not just by students and parents who depend on school buses for transportation but drivers and pedestrians near the schools. There are 16 school buses that travel from Glendale to Clark Magnet High School at 4747 New York Ave. in far north Glendale. Lincoln and Valley View elementary schools are specifically feeling the traffic issues created as students who typically fill 16 buses are now in personal vehicles. The traffic jams and dangerous conditions have been brought to the attention of Glendale Police Dept. and the district, which are working together to increase support in the areas.

While negotiations continue and GUSD administrators wait for word, they are scrambling to arrange alternative transportation.

“Right now we are in a bit of a holding pattern,” Nam said.