Dr Fabby Williams GENERAL; – School bus drivers within the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School District initiated a protest on Monday, advocating for improvements in safety protocols, compensation, and communication with the district administration.
The demonstration commenced early in the morning, with 36 drivers opting not to work, which affected 120 bus routes and approximately 40 to 45 schools throughout the district. Although alternative arrangements were made to cover the routes, drivers were required to manage multiple routes in a single day, resulting in delays and increased pressure on the staff.
“We are not on strike…this is a movement aimed at securing better working conditions and fairer pay,” stated Yvonne Carter, a bus driver for the district. “At this juncture, we are unconcerned about any potential backlash because we need to see changes implemented.”
This protest follows a meeting held last Thursday between Tricia McManus, the Superintendent of Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, and the bus drivers. During this meeting, drivers articulated their concerns regarding safety, compensation, and communication issues. Many drivers expressed feelings of vulnerability due to incidents of student violence on buses, citing a lack of support from the district in managing disruptive behavior.
One driver, who chose to remain anonymous, remarked, “Why don’t you come out and drive the bus for a day and experience it for yourself?”
In response to these issues, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Fabby Williams acknowledged that some drivers had indicated they had not received adequate feedback regarding their safety concerns. To address this, the district is developing a new code of conduct that will clarify the procedures for bus drivers in dealing with disruptions from students or parents, as well as outline the potential consequences for students who violate the rules.
“We stand by our drivers. We recognize that some of the issues they raise are within our control, while others require ongoing collaboration with our local and state officials and commissioners,” Dr. Williams stated.
