WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderParents, school district adjust to bus drivers strike

Parents, school district adjust to bus drivers strike

By Marissa Alter

DEKALB COUNTY (WREX) - Negotiators for Dekalb school bus drivers and First Student, Inc. return to the table Thursday to try and work on a contract deal. It'll be the first meeting since drivers began their strike Monday. Negotiators reached a tentative agreement two weeks ago. But Friday evening bus drivers rejected it.

It's been a little difficult this week for Dekalb mom Melissa Austin. She's taken on the role of school chauffeur for son Damien. He usually rides the bus to Malta Elementary School.

"We live 15-20 minutes away--back in Dekalb. And I have three younger children, so it's just been fully chaotic in the morning trying to get everybody fully up and dressed and out the door."

Pick-up isn't much easier. Monday she arrived around 3 pm, 30 minutes before school got out, and the cars were lined up down the street

"We started getting here about 2:30 pm, 2:45 pm just to make sure. Otherwise by 3:30, they're backed up to Route 38, and it's impossible to pick up your kid."

Less than two miles away at Wright Elementary, a sheriff's deputy directs congestion. Administrators are on site at all elementary schools and any other buildings that need support.

"We had to control some traffic because of the backups, but we did that, and it's gotten better throughout the week," explains Dekalb Schools Superintendent Dr. James Briscoe. "Overall, I'm very impressed with all the help we're getting from our parents, our teachers, teachers assistants. It's going much smoother than I ever imagined."

Not far from District 428 Headquarters striking bus drivers and monitors spend their workday on the picket line.

"They're not being fair," says Daniel Buchino, Sr. He's been a bus driver for just 8 months and never expected to be on strike when he took the job. "This company has many bus lots like this all around the area, and we are by far the lowest paid. We're not asking for a lot. We're not asking for anything the other lots don't have, and they just don't want to deal with us."

First Student spokesperson Maureen Richmond disagrees. She says the company was shocked bus drivers turned down the tentative contract deal. "We feel the offer of a 15% increase over three years was competitive, especially considering current economic conditions."

Both sides meet tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm.

Despite the strike, state law requires First Student provide busing to special needs students. The company's brought in drivers from other areas for that.