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Solon board fires school bus driver
(by Sue Hoffman - September 28, 2011)
Solon board fires school bus driver
By SUE HOFFMAN
The Solon School Board voted Monday to approve the termination of bus driver Carole Haydocy.
The termination followed an incident Sept. 22 in which a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten student did not get off the school bus upon arrival at Arthur Road Elementary School.
School officials said the required walk-through was not done after parking the bus. The student was left unattended for approximately 15 minutes and was found by staff members in the bus compound area, officials said.
The driver was suspended immediately and faced an official disciplinary hearing Monday.
"It's unfortunate that this resolution has to appear at this board meeting, but it is also necessary," School Superintendent Joseph V. Regano told the school board. "Any driver at the end of any run has the obligation and is paid to check a bus" to be sure that all students have exited, he said.
"One of the reasons that it's so important is the way buses are constructed." Buses are built with high-back seats, Mr. Regano said. "They're almost compartmentalized, so it's very easy to overlook a youngster." It's not unusual, especially at the beginning of the school year, that young children fall asleep during a bus run, he said.
Mr. Regano said the incident cannot be tolerated. "We had a hearing, as outlined in our contract, this afternoon. On the basis of that hearing, we're recommending dismissal," he said.
School board members Julie Glavin, Margo Morrow, Dorothy Seibert and Marilyn Thomas all voted for termination. Member Roger Goudy was absent.
Mr. Regano said transportation supervisor Vicki Gliha met with all of the bus drivers that morning to review the issue and what is required of them.
The driver was "a 19-year employee who's had a very good record with us," Mr. Regano said, and it was difficult to take this action. He said the termination is in keeping with board policy, and he had no discretion. "It's a contractual issue also, and there was no objection," he said.
"Children's safety is paramount," school board member Dorothy Seibert said.
"We are committed to guaranteeing children's safety," board President Julie Glavin said. "It's unfortunate when situations like this happen."
School officials sent a letter to parents of all elementary school students last Friday informing them of the incident.
"We obviously consider this incident very serious," officials said in the letter. "State law requires that our drivers check the bus thoroughly when it is parked back in the bus compound area and our own Solon policy advises that drivers check the bus prior to it leaving the school, especially for our youngest student riders."
"We encourage drivers to check the bus at the school," Assistant Superintendent Thomas W. Stupica said Tuesday. "It only takes a little time." The requirement is to check the bus after parking it in the compound, he said. "Bus drivers are trained by the state. as well as here in Solon. Everybody knows that's what you do. We emphasize to the drivers the importance of safety. It's too important," Mr. Stupica said.
Being a bus driver is more than a job, he said. "It's a responsibility."
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