School bus drivers may stage sickout

DeKalb County School District bus drivers may not show up to take your child to school today.

District officials said they are aware the drivers may stage a sickout — calling in sick for work to send a message to district leadership — and are preparing parents for the possibility.

Parents are expected to receive a phone call from the district warning them buses may not arrive as planned.

Drivers have voiced frustrations during the last two school board meetings about pay, insurance and retirement benefits.

Superintendent Steve Green met with about 350 bus drivers Tuesday, district officials said in a statement.

“Dr. Green listened and assured employees that he is committed to addressing their concerns,” the statement read. “He explained that some matters will be addressed immediately. The district is working in good faith collaboration with its bus drivers to address their concerns.”

Monday, during the DeKalb County Board of Education’s monthly meeting, bus driver Sheila Bennett, a drivers union representative, said drivers are being intimidated for standing up.

“You must revamp this transportation department,” she said, addressing Green. “You need to do some spring cleaning from top to bottom. We need a resolution not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today. The bus drivers and monitors are in full support of having our students transported to and from school safely, but enough is enough.

“It is a disgrace how we’re being treated.”