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MCCSC bus drivers: 'We're at our breaking point.'

By Holden Abshier

Posted November 17, 2021

school-bus-close-up2.jpg

(WFIU/WTIU file photo)

Monroe County Community School Corporation bus drivers say they are stretched to the breaking point. Most are driving one or two extra routes every day.

While majority of the bus drivers remained outside Tuesday’s board of trustees meeting due to social distancing, the group made their voice heard during public comment. 

“We’re very sorry that we’re getting students to school late in the morning and home late in the afternoon,” driver Rocky Laster said. “We’re extremely shorthanded and we’re doing our absolute best with the limited number of drivers that we currently have.”

He said the current number of drivers dwindles every week. At the beginning of the school year, the district was short 14 drivers. However, 22 others have quit in the last three months.

As a result, seven maintenance workers, two bus mechanics, and several transportation office staff members are driving buses every day.

READ MORE: MCCSC Bus Issues Leave Parents, Children On The Curb

Laster said a team of eight drivers met with three district administrators over the last two weeks to discuss concerns and offer suggestions. 

“Drivers are suffering from severe burnout and great stress,” he said. “An inherently stressfully and potentially dangerous job is being made almost impossible with all the new demands we’re being tasked with.”

After drivers expressed concerns with retention and recruitment earlier in the meeting, superintendent Jeff Hauswald said the district will give an update about bus route efficiency and new technologies at the Dec. 14 board meeting.

“Our end game here, in terms of this revision, is August of 2022,” Hauswald said. “We are limited based on the arrival of technologies and trainings.”

Collective Bargaining Agreement

Additionlly, the board approved a new teacher collective bargaining agreement through June 2023. 

The negotiating team started bargaining Sept. 15 and reached a tentative agreement Oct. 12.

One of MCCSC’s priorities was boosting starting salary to attract teachers to the district. On average, the base salary increase is $2,807 for 2021-2022 and $2,199 for 2022-2023.

Under the new agreement, teacher salaries will increase for the current school year, as well as next school year:

  • 2020-21: $40,000- $77,957
  • 2021-22: $43,250- $80,125
  • 2022-23: $45,500- $80,500

The school district will retroactively pay certified staff for the current year Dec. 10.

COVID-19 update

The MCCSC Board of Trustees also approved three recommendations from the COVID Monitoring and Advisory Committee:

  1. Purchase HEPA filters for classrooms with wall-mounted ventilators.
  2. Allow use of water fountains and athletic coolers, as well as full use of restrooms and sinks.
  3. Increase access for volunteers in schools.

Read Next

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