Richmond County School Bus Drivers Fear More Delays

Richmond County Bus Drivers Fear More Delays (Added: July 19, 2011)

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Richmond County Bus Drivers Fear More Delays

By: Annie Snead | WJBF-TV
Published: July 19, 2011

Augusta, GA --

Many Richmond County school bus drivers say they are fed up with pay and other issues. They say those frustrations could affect your child's transportation when classes begin is three weeks.

“I'll be surprised if all the drivers come back this year,” said Sallie Thomas, a longtime Richmond County school bus driver.

Thomas said she and other drivers are upset at how the transportation administration is running the bus system.

“Don't go telling parents that it's going to take 2 or 3 weeks for you to get the bus routes under control. It won't happen. It didn't happen last year,” said Thomas.

Thomas said, each year becomes more and more stressful for bus drivers and if any leave this year, it will put a heavier load on the ones that stay.

“You cannot hire just anybody off the street, they need to keep the drivers they have,” Thomas said.

The Richmond County Board of Education (RCBOE) says they don't know exactly how many drivers they will need when school begins August 8th because their transportation needs are always changing.

“We do have substitute drivers we have hired and are in the process of training additional drivers now to have some going into the school year and we'll continue that recruitment,” said RCBOE Spokesperson Lou Svehla.

Svehla said, because kids move out of district and bus drivers retire mid-year, routes are constantly changing.

This upcoming school year, the district is sending the magnet school students to their regular school district after school instead of using bus drivers to take them all home at once.

“It's going to be more cost effective because we'll save on gas. It will allow us to more effectively use our staff to run routes," said Svehla.

Despite the changes, some drivers say it may not be enough.

"There's not going to be any room for error this year,” Thomas said.

Richmond County school bus drivers are expected to meet with school leaders on Wednesday at a safety meeting to address these issues.