Driver's Bus Stop

Well I finally got a meeeting with the bus director on Friday 11/08/08 at 10:30 A.M. (three wks and one day after incident) missed two weeks work unpaid. I was proven to be not guilty of all accusations or of having done anything wrong at all. In fact I was reenstated in good standing with Knox County as I had followed every policy rule. However not one of the three students duly written up for the incident have been punished, despite principles insistance that upon the decision of the investigation they would discipline the children per the rules. Which has not happened because one of the children who was written up for the riot is a child of a school board memeber which I just learned yesterday. So it is all political, wish I had known that from the start , guess I should have listened when she said you don't know who my Daddy is , and I said I don't care he ain't driving . Just as I have with every other kid for thirteen years . I don't care who your mom or dad is . You have to obey the same rules as everybody else . They want me to just drive them as fast as I can and ignore them as much as possible. Despite that apparently this is the new rule of bus drivers. I however feel absolutely that I just cannot do this so I am resigning my job. The D.O.T., contractors, principles, parents and school board expect us to drive safely and do all we can to teach the kids bus safety, but they are not helping us to do that and then they do not help to enforce discipline against the kids when they don't follow the rules. I will continue to do all I can through this site and through the school systems to get bus safety in to the school curriculm as well as finding ways to help protect other drivers from going through something like this. UPDATE: Well thanks to the follow up article by the Knoxville News Sentinel I think we have got the parents attention as to what is happening on the bus and how little the administration does to help the situation. Hopefully we got the attention of some others on the school board a s well and that they might be more inclined to make some changes in the way these incidents are handled in the future and perhaps up the heat a bit on these parent scared principles to do the job they were hired to do and to discipline when necessary and to protect the majority from the few. Although I have decided not to drive anymore, and enlight of all the drivers who are being abused mentally and physically I feel not a moment too soon. I still wonder what it is really going to take to change things or even if it is even possible anymore. Things have gotten so far out of hand and no one seems to know who to blame or where to start. It isn't that we can't see the problems, but we all really need to work together to think of ways we can work together to make the changes we need rather than just blaming each other or waiting for someone else to do something about it or some miraculous event that will fix it all. After all SAFETY IS A TEAM EFFORT AND EXPERIENCE ! RIGHT!

UPDATE:

Well it has been six months now since I stopped driving the bus. I still see my co-workers around and alot of the kids as well. I also realize that I did choose the right time to quit as the last few months have been difficult enough since my father got very ill and past away in February. And my grandchildren are all getting bigger as well and I have alot more time and energy to spend with them as well. So I just wanted to touch base and let everyone know that I haven't done much with the site the last few months and that is why, but I intend to get back to it and make some more updates very soon. I know you are all very anxious as it is nearly summer vacation time. We are all very excited as well as my youngest, My Daughter is Graduating on May 14th. Our youngest grandson is also very excited for school to start back because he gets to go to Kindergarten in August. We are all well and hope you are all as well. Keep riding safe and have a great summer vacation. Mrs. Donna

December 2009

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FRIENDS!

I know you are all looking forward to the holiday season and the winter break as well. As much as the children are all dreaming of snow days I know you are not as joyous about it, especially if you don't get paid for them. Driving in winter is just more difficult even when the roads are dry, no one is happy about getting out into the very cold morning to start a cold bus and it's dark most of the route as well so you have to be even more cautious watching for those kids chasing the bus in the dark, or playing by the road at the bus stop. And all the ones standing shivering with teeth chattering cause they left their coat on the bus the day before. Hopefully you have the same bus this morning though RIGHT! I am content with my decision to retire at least until I retire, but I do want to keep working on teaching safety to the kids and helping drivers as well. So I hope that you all will continue to share with me any concerns you wish to share and to also continue to brag to us about the good and exciting things happening on your bus this year. I pray you all have a safe and uneventful winter and to see none of you on the news LOL!

Mrs. Donna

Tip of the week:

Here is a suggestion of what to do with your standers.

You know the ones that are in their seats, not hanging over them or turned around backwards talking, but just can't seem to sit down more than a second or two. Chances are these children suffer at least slightly with motion sickness, so instead of wasting your time telling them to sit every few minutes and also calling attention to a child who may already be feeling different anyway, ask them to be your bus monitors. They are up and are able to see who threw the paper wad or who is in the floor or sitting backwards or other situation that you may need to know about. This will give them something to help take their minds off the motion ofthe ride and will give you some extra eyes on the bus as well. This works best at the middle school level. High schoolers are usually less anxious to snitch on others and elementary level tend to be too much of tattlers, although 4th and 5th graders work well as monitors. They can also monitor loading and unloading, by telling kidsd not to run and to hold rail and keeping aisle clear. This works real well for the ones get bored and are otherwise causing trouble too, because it gives them something they see as important to do instead. Careful not to choose bullies though and make sure they understand they are just to watch and then tell you.

As for your end of the route wanderers

You know the ones walking the bus after most have gotten off. Well ask them " While your up why don't you put up the windows, Or to look for things that children may have left behind for me? Please! This will save you some time and give them something to pass those last few minutes. Don't forget to use your manners with children after all this is how they learn to use theirs.

More tips on my Tips for Parents & Students page Just click the Bus

Want to learn More about Mrs. Donna? Click this Bus!

Purely Bragging:)

Bus 180

Well let me start this off. First of course my own bunch of young'uns. This is a huge bunch this year. Fifty elementary all of whom are working on staying seated the whole trip and not getting too loud. They are really good about not fighting, throwing things or hanging out the windows. Their bus teacher is a real asset to me as well, because I can focus on just driving and getting them home more quickly and safely as well. I know many of us think there should be a teacher on every route and especially the middle school ones. My middle school bunch is very heavy too. Fifty-six and mostly 6th graders too, they are a good bunch though. We have our clowns who just have to be silly and only had a couple who tried to be bullies but found real quick that isn't allowed or tolerated on here. I am very positive that this will be a great year. Bus 180 Your Great!

More...... added 9/26/08

This bunch have been trying to show how much they miss me here lately, but unfortunately they haven't used the best ways to do it. Giving their new driver a really hard time and thinking it would bring me back. Hey it has worked before!

But not this time guys and Jim is a great driver and you will like him too if you give him a chance. I trust him with you and I am still here and not going anywhere. You can still come to me anytime you need me and I miss you all too, but we all have to move on or around in time. I have watched so many of you all move on over the years to new schools and new buses while I stayed here and got a new bunch. It's great to stay close, but it's OK to change too. You will always be BUS 180 YOUNG'UNS TO ME.

Bus 194

Well as of the last week I have been at least temporarily reassigned to this bus, and my first impression was not a good one. Kids screaming, roaming about, hanging out windows,sitting on the back of seats and refusing to listen. Of course it as usual was only a small portion of the load and it didn't take anymore than moving that rowdy bunch to the front and only one stop to move a few more to stop all that nonsense. I also found that once I got them sitting down and in the windows they are really quite civil. In fact they have really good manners and are a friendly bunch as well. I look forward to working with you all more this year.

More.......

This bunch is getting to know Mrs. Donna now. Some seem happy to see me each afternoon and others, well not so glad :( LOL! Yeah well it's true MRS. Donna can be a real tough sometimes or at least some of the kids think so, because I am strict on bus safety and some of these kids have no idea of what that means. They think that it is ok to hang out windows, hit others, sit in the floor, or on back of seats, etc. but lucky for them I am here to teach them better. So just load up, sit on your butts and face the front and keep the volume low enough I can hear a siren and you will be safe and fine and will get to know my nicer side. In fact in time you may believe it or not learn to love me too.

Mrs. Donna

Bus 64

I personally have never driven this bus as they have had the same driver for the last 13 years now, Ms. Vicky. They are always seated when the bus leaves, they do not walk around on the bus and are even quite at railroad crossings. Major task indeed! So Congradulations to Bus 64 and Ms. Vicky for having one of the most well behaved buses I have seen yet.

More.....

Hey Bus 64 maybe you could help us driver's and your fellow students out? Perhaps you could log on and give us your answers to the scenario, or add some safety tips you've learned from Mrs. Vicky, or just share with your friends what it is like to ride on a school bus that is safer and better behaved in our guest book or the blog that is coming soon.

Look forward to your responses.

Mrs. Donna

Date: Oct 16, 2008 9:05 PM

name: Mrs. Donna
                  
                  email: bus 180@earthlink.net
                  
                  comment: Bus 194,
                  I just wanted to tell those of you who take pride in your ride and today listened
                  to your driver, your principle and officers just how proud I am of you all. I also
                  want to offer you and your parents my sincerest apologies for our terrible delay
                  today. I know how important it is to have our children home on time and how worried
                  we get when they aren't. I hope that after talking with your children you understand
                  that I used my many years of experience and training to make a difficult decision,
                  and decided that I simply could not deliver them safely under the circumstances 
                  and did everything I could do from calling the principle, who told me to call police
                  as the situation was purely out of hand even after officers arrived. Unfortunately
                  some children today think NO ONES RULES OR LAWS APPLY TO THEM. Most of the kids 
                  on this bus are great and respect the rules, each other and authority. Unfortunately
                  there are a few who think they are above the rest of us and those rules and laws
                  don't apply to them. When you are one adult to nearly 60 teens and 8 or 9 of
                  them decide to start riotous behavior, ( half bus screaming obscenities at you in
                  heavy traffic) startling you while bouncing about like monkeys in a circus act, 
                  and your bus is making noises you can barely hear. What would you do? Now calling
                  the school or police is not your first choice as it brings pressure on your head.
                  But as I looked at all my good kids and assessed the situation with parents having
                  been called and on their way, which put me under attack in an already stressful 
                  situation, I called the school and they told me to call police when the students
                  refused to obey the principle. You must know that most of the children were cooperative
                  and ready to go home it was only about 7 or 8 who refused to obey driver, principle
                  or even uniformed officers. This is why I had no choice, because all of those minding
                  deserved to get home safely even if it was late, the alternative was to risk their
                  safety for some who refused to obey the simplist rules. I still apologize to all
                  my good students and I want you to understand how proud I am of you and I know you
                  each and everyone even if I haven't yet learned your name.

BUS 66

Well two of my grandsons are riding the bus to school this year with someone else besides me. This does still feel a little strange. Their driver Ms. Carlene is a really great lady in many ways and a driver I completely trust with their safety as well. The teacher's assistant that rides with them is a really great asset as well. I have driven with her in the past myself and she does an excellent job keeping an eye on the children. Keeping them seated and helping them to get off the bus with all their stuff in a timely fashion. I hope these teachers and assistants realize how much easier they make it for the driver to concentrate on the actual driving. We all agree that they should be on every route and run, especially the middle school routes, but no such luck thus far on that. Keep up the great job BUS 66 and thank you as well. Mrs. Donna

Comment from Bus 180 in Maryland

Another Bus 180. Good day, I drive School Bus #180 also. I have been driving for almost 3 years after retiring and my best days are on the school bus. I do 4 trips a day, high school, middle school and 2 elementary schools plus activity runs 2 days a week. My students are great and we have fun keeping safety our #1 goal. One thing about driving a school bus everyday is a new day and the kids say the dandiest things.
2009-12-23 10:04:45, Rick Curley, Maryland, 63,

Dear Mr. Curley,

I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying your job driving bus 180. It is very excting to hear that your bus 180 students are as interested in bus safety as ours are. You probably have worse traffic and weather problems than we do here which is even more reason for safety issues as well. Please tell your students that we applaud them and their efforts to help you to keep them safe each day. God bless and keep you all. Ms. Donna Bus 180 Knoxville, TN.

Tumbling

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