An agreement between city officials and school bus companies averts an immediate crisis for some of the 150,000 yellow bus riders, but it's unclear if the deal will address notoriously poor service.

A coalition of the largest bus companies agreed Thursday to a 30- to 60-day temporary extension that maintains service. The Panel for Educational Policy, which is in charge of approving contracts, will consider a two- to three-year deal with tighter requirements at its next meeting in November.

But the latest example of school bus brinksmanship highlights the complexities of achieving long-term improvements to a dysfunctional system. Bus company executives who attended contentious public hearings this week acknowledged they could do better, but said the city must reform its handling of school

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