Reassigning the Bus Driver!!!

[Willow]

My kids got a GREAT bus driver this year! He is fair with the discipline, has shown NO favoritism to ANY of the kids on the bus, and he lets me know right away when there has been a problem, whether instigated by MY kids or another kid...PLUS once Katie left her bookbag on the bus and HE DROVE BACK TO OUR HOUSE WHEN HIS ROUTE WAS DONE IN HIS OWN CAR to return her bag to us. NOT many drivers do that for the kids! When I was a kid, if I left my bag on the bus, I had to wait until the next day to get it.

Well it is starting to get colder out so I walked down with the kids to discuss with the driver allowing my kids to wait in the house on really cold days until we see him coming and then having them walk out the door. I don't mean waiting until he is stopped, but like they could start down the yard when they see him come around the bend. (we are only like 100 feet or so from the road anyway). Well, he said HE doesn't mind, but he might not be on this route after tomorrow. He said they might be re-assigning the routes and I should ask him again tomorrow because while HE doesn't mind, other bus drivers DO NOT like the kids to do that and according to bus regulations the kids are not supposed to wait in the house! even in bad weather!!!

So tomorrow I find out if they keep this driver or get a new one. I am going to be praying really hard that they get to keep the driver they have now. I had enough problems with the driver from last year and I don't like the idea of having a new driver period. Last year the driver they had kept falling asleep at the wheel and once she put the bus in the ditch after falling asleep and then threatened the kids on the bus if they told their parents!!! Thankfully none of the kids listened and they ALL told their parents!

[Janet]

I am so happy you have a great bus driver. There are some truely good ones out there. Others just want a part-time job and that's it. I really love most of my kids, but I don't show favoritism. It really is a hard job, because of the undisiplined kids out there. I usually try to meet them on their level, but let them know up front, I AM IN CHARGE. I try to remember too, that most of the time, it's not the kids fault. The parents had no clue in how to raise them!!

I always have mine wait in the house during inclement weather, but I ask that they watch for me and try to meet me when I stop.

For your sake, I hope you get to keep the driver you have. He sounds like one of the good ones.

[Brooke]

O hope it all works out well for you! How cold is it and how old are your kids???

[Willow]

The temperature this morning was only 15F degrees and it is steadily dropping. My oldest is 7. On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays it is only my 7 year old and my 5 year old catching the bus...but on Tuesdays and Thursdays I also have my three year old catching the bus because he is in preschool.

[Marilyn]

Oh, my goodness!! Your children are really small to wait out in the cold like that. I can't imagine a bus driver who would not let them wait until they see him/her coming to go outside. They should be there by the time he/she stops, of course. We can over do it, but you are not being unreasonable at all.

Hope your wonderful driver gets to stay on your route!!

[Willow]

Thanks!

We find out this afternoon I think.