The William Floyd Board of Education held an emergency meeting Wednesday night to approve an agreement with First Student bus company on the large-bus contract.

Superintendent Kevin Coster said they had come to an agreement with First Student to provide large-bus service to the 9,000 kids in the district.

Local 252, the bus drivers union, has signed a memorandum of agreement with First Student to attain the work for the contract.

First Student informed the district that they will be able to get the large-buses 100 percent operational no later than Monday, Sept. 17.

"We just ask that our community and our parents be patient. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank God it's not an oncoming train," said School Board President Robert Vecchio. "Tonight, the board will take action to bring a resolution to this matter."

The district said despite the transportation issues, there was an attendance rate of 96 percent for the first day of school.

William Floyd hired Ronkonkoma based Acme-Baumann last month because their previous bus company had defaulted on its contract. Local 252 Union bus drivers said they were let go when the district chose a new bus company. They say Acme-Baumann only wanted to employ some of the drivers at lower wages and higher union dues. None of them took the deal.