To the Editor:
After being made aware of the situation on 1/19/11 with the bus drivers deciding not to drive due to the icy weather that morning, I now have had the opportunity to review all the facts that have been shared with me. This included having the opportunity to hear both sides of the story from individuals who were directly involved. As a BOE member I have not agreed with the action being initiated against the bus drivers. I openly questioned the decisions related to the extent of potential disciplinary action. As an individual member of the BOE I have the right to choose my response to the community and those drivers, as long as I make it clear that my opinions do not represent the opinions of the BCSD administration or other members of the Board of Education.
I support the bus drivers decision to not go out on the roads that morning. They are brave individuals who stood up for what they believed was the right thing to do. Most of them live in the District and have members of their own family riding on a bus. They drove to the garage and had first hand information regarding the conditions of the roads. Their decision not to drive was not premeditated or organized in a way that could be defined as an illegal strike. It was not a planned attempt to disrespect the authority of the Superintendent, nor has there been a history of these types of situations. They are not law breakers and are a well-intentioned group of people making a choice to protect the safety of our children.
I hold the previous BOE leadership and a lack of leadership when it comes to the transportation department, responsible for what happened regarding the drivers decision not to drive. There has been no supervisor responsible for the transportation department for over 2 years!
When you give responsibility of your children to someone other than family every day, trust is essential. There is no one in this District that parents trust more than our bus drivers. We have many important challenges facing our school district and worrying about whether or not to trust our bus drivers should not be one of them! Thank you to all community members who used their 1st amendment rights to express concern and support for the drivers. I am hopeful that there will be quick resolution to this issue.
Sincerely,
John Nash, Grafton
Concerned Citizen And Board of Education Member