My disciplinary action review

[avalen]

First and formost.........I get to keep my job
I also get to keep my lead driver status and my 8 hour day.
I did however loose my route and my bus, which I've had
forever. They have another route for me to do at a different
school and I can't bid into the school in question for 2 years.
That part basically is because they want me and my bus to
be unseen at that school and let the parents forget and all
blow over. That part is sort of for my protection but also
because they said they had to do something for discipline
and they knew it would hurt for me to loose my kids I've
had so long. So, today I said goodbye to them and told
them the other school needed my expertese and that
they would get a new driver. They hugged me as they
got off and of course it brought the tears up, but hey,
I get to keep my job.
Come to find out, the head boss wanted to let me go but
my supervisor fought for me and pulled out my personnel
file from day one in 2001 and showed NOT ONE
parent complaint, and NOT ONE
general public traffic complaint, I was there EVERYDAY,
and NO other accidents and she also told him how expert
I was at handleing the bus and that I always knew where
the bus was. My supervisor said he just didn't know what
to do and that he didn't have all the facts. He did not know
there were two buses blocking the crosswalk and the little
girl couldn't see me and I couldn't see her. She convinced
him to keep me. Then I signed the paperwork and she let
me have a good cry and then get my composure before I
left her office. As far as that 1% driver that was the witness,
she was talking a bunch of crap and the boss took her on the
carpet and told her physically to SHUT UP! (secretly, my
supervisor told me that driver has so many traffic complaints
and parent complaints in her file that she is eventually going
to cook her own goose) but then I knew that cause I've seen
her deliberately run red lights but I'm not allowed to tell on
her because its a known fact her and I don't get along.
Gods been with me these past few days and helped me get
through it, and you girls too here for me when I needed you.
I found out I was well liked at work and well respected. I
didn't know, I thought I was just another driver.
Tomorrow starts a new chapter and a new route.

[Fernie]

Ava, I know this has been super tough. Glad things worked out as well as they did. I have several friends who are bus drivers. You are a special breed of people. I couldn't do it!! Hats of to all school bus drivers and good luck on your new route!!

[oliveoil]

Blessings to you & God's will be done!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful new day on your new route!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MsBHaven]

Ava, sure sounds like a very emotional time for you. You obviously have been a good driver and your supervisor fought for you and that is so nice. Wishing you well at your new school.

[avalen]

oh, btw
my new bus, is just that, a NEW bus, it came in last year but was assigned to the
shop for a spare but never used much. I never did like these kind of buses which
is why I had kept my old one for so long, but next year I can bid on a bus like my
old one. The new one is a Thomas, my old one was an International.

[dpf]

Ava....sorry you have been going through such a difficult time....so glad that you had a supervisor who would stand up for you. Good Luck on the new route...those kids are going to love you.

[snowball]

Ava
how hard to go through all this and not really even your fault!!! So glad that you didn't lose your job and that the supervisor stood up for you. Enjoy the the route and new kids.
sheila

[Gentleladybear]

Ava glad to hear this has all worked out for you. You may get into the new bus and find out you like it.
It is a good thing to have your supervisor stand and fight for you. Makes your day a bit brighter.

Good luck to you.

Nan

[Cedar518]

Well,... it sounds as if it turned out about as good as it could for you Ava. I'm so glad. We all know you did just fine and if it had been any other driver but you folks at that school might have been going to that child's funeral instead of sending you to another bus run. A pat on the back to you for your quick reaction time and ability to control that big bus.

Re: the new bus,... what is it you don't like about the Thomas-built? We've got several of them at our school and I think our newest one is a Thomas. We've got some Bluebirds too. I'll have to pay more attention. One of my assisgnments is dismissal montitor. I stand on the steps as the kids come out the door to the busses. But we are a small school,... only 4 busses needed at one time. And walking kids or those whose parents are picking them up go the other direction out the school's sidewalk toward the street.

Good luck with your new run.... you will be fine!

[avalen]

Cedar, the new Thomas's have the gauges in the middle of the dash,
where I have to take my eyes off the road and turn my head to physically
glance at even my speed. Its as if they put the gauges over there for the
passengers to keep an eye on, and the pedles are real tiny, like volkswagen
pedals, transmissions won't hold their rpms on a slight uphill ordinary road.
They have a poor turning radius and the mirrors are hard to adjust. Next
time your in one, look and see if the gauges are in the middle, these are
Thomas Saftliner model. The mirrors are like big black arms hanging down.
I've driven many of them during times I've had to use a spare bus but of course
we will make do and get used to the new "office". Bluebirds are really the best,
but we don't have of those anymore, the district started buying the cheap stuff.
The internationals have great mirrors, big pedals and you could do a smooth
u turn without having to stop and back up some. But I could actually be in
worse shape and have been assigned one of the dinosaur buses with no a/c.

[retiredhappy]

Ava, I'm so glad things turned out as well as they did for you. Its also nice to hear a supervisor actually stand up for an employee these days. Doesn't it amaze you that they keep someone like that woman with so many complaints in her file?

[Bethers]

Ava, as tough as the whole thing has been - lots of good has come out of it. I can't get over that you didn't know how well liked you were. Well, actually, I guess I can understand that - I think most of us never really know those things (either way) - but I'm not at all surprised. You are a joy to have with us here on the forum, and I can't imagine you to be anything less than a joy to know in person and on the job.

They are lucky to be able to keep you - and I do understand moving you to a new school, but also know how hard that must be for you and the kids. Too bad you couldn't take your current bus with you - but maybe they didn't want you to continue driving that one after the incident either. I guess maybe some kind of superstition.

I'm glad all of it is over - and even though it'll be a long time and you'll never forget it - you can move onward and forward.

[Redetotry]

I've been thinking about you today Ava and hoping the new route goes well and you will be happy with it. You seem to have a lot of friends, that is a blessing. Take good care of yourself.

[avalen]

well, I got through the first day of the new route, things went fine, about 40 kids on
the bus, all grades, one bus load, high school through kindergarten, because its
its a specialty school that does all grades, way up in the north part of Scottsdale.
Its actually the richest of the rich part of town and way far and lots of stops every
few houses.
The kids need a little training, but not too bad, I will mold them nicely. The reason I lost
my bus is because the buses stay with the routes for the whole year, I can bid back
on my bus next year, but not my route. Other good news is they gave me back my
mid day which was a run out to Mesa to the technical college to bring the high school
kids back. Found out that 1% driver witness left out key information in her witness
report and when the boss found that out he made her correct it. She has been called
back on the carpet AGAIN for mouthing off about the boss making her correct it.
Funny part.......... even though I go in a half hour later, and get off a half hour
earlier, I still get an 8 hour day

[oliveoil]

Glad your day went well & you have such a good route!!!!!!!!