ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) - Dozens of South Carolina school bus drivers who say a newly consolidated district cut their pay without notice refused to run their afternoon routes, leaving hundreds of students stranded at school until someone could pick them up.
The decision by about 50 people not to drive their buses forced the Orangeburg County School District to cancel some routes just before the school day ended Monday, The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reported .
The district said it is now paying drivers for the actual time they work and not the anticipated time to finish a route - a change made after three Orangeburg County school districts consolidated into one over the summer.
District officials said they are working with each driver to try to make sure their pay is correct.
“We are working with each person individually to see what the issue may be. We will show them the hours on the time sheets turned in and show them what they are being paid,” school district Chief of Finance Michael Thom said.
Fewer routes were disrupted Tuesday morning after the district agreed to meet with upset drivers.
Thomas Moorer joined about 50 other bus drivers Monday at school district headquarters. Last school year, his paycheck ranged from $1,000 to $1,500. His first check from the consolidated Orangeburg County School District was $500.
The district corrected Moorer’s paycheck to his satisfaction. But he planned on staying with other drivers in solidarity until all the issues are solved.
Moorer said the school district didn’t explain the change well and drivers are still suffering, even when things are made right.
“The landlord is not giving us more time. The cable bill is not giving us more time,” Moorer said.
The decision not to work Monday left some parents scrambling. Keela Glover’s middle school son called her about 3:45 p.m. Monday - 30 minutes after dismissal - and said he needed to be picked up because no one knew where the bus driver was.
Glover had to leave her job in Cayce immediately and drive 40 miles (64 kilometers) to get her son. She didn’t hear anything about the bus problems from the district until they got home.
Glover said she was thankful she has a job that is flexible to let her leave as soon as she could.
“I can’t imagine what it is like for some other parents who have kids at multiple schools and how inconvenient it was for them,” Glover said.
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Information from: The Times & Democrat, http://www.timesanddemocrat.com
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