need to vent

[avalen]

what an emotional week from "you know where " I've had. Mondays doctor appt revealed
a need for surgery, not life threatening but an annoyance for sure. Putting off surgery
for the moment until I get another opinion from a gyn doc and get the little ducks all
lined up, a little research, and of course theres that deductible the insurance company
is going to want. Looking at maybe a few months away.
Work has been going great up until Wednesday when dispatch called me over the radio
and requested my presence at the end of the day and to bring my aide (Lana) with me.
So we did, and they just flat out said "we're taking Lana and putting her on another rt"
and "your getting Lenore" I asked why and they said they needed
an experienced aide on this other route as it had a brand new driver. I thought about
that all the way home, and seemed to not make sense because Lenore had been here
a good 5 years and Lana only had a couple years. I didn't sleep that night, cause Lana
was my friend and we were a team and had the kids totally squared away and everything
going smooth. Not to mention the fact that it was Lenores assigned route anyway and
she had been out on medical and her driver retired while she was out. So now she was
coming back and they stuck her with me. I've always been friendly and pleasant and
treated her with respect even though I didn't like her. Her personality grinds against
mine and although she always sat at my table with us in the drivers lounge I was always
nice and would just leave the room when I'd had enough of her. So now here I am stuck
with her on my bus.
I went to my supervisor to find out what gives. Come to find out she said she couldn't
handle one of the kids on that other run and the ride was so long it hurt her back. She
wanted to ride on my run. I have 6 of those kind of kids on my run and one of my runs is a 40 mile round trip! I am livid they would do this for her and do it to me. What happen to seniority?

[avalen]

I just don't get it, it really had nothing to do with needing a more experienced
aide on the other route, it was all Lenores doing and last night I think I figured
it out. Lenore had got hurt on the other route when the driver started driving
and knocked her off her feet while she was still standing. I think the school
district is afraid they are going to get sued.
She is NOT a good aide and she has habits that gag me. She is just a bump on
a log, does not interact with the kids and I have to tell her exactly what to do!
The last two days were h-e-double toothpicks! The kids were all upset and
acting up just like the first couple days of school before Lana and I had the
routine down for them. She isn't sweeping and doing the other parts of the
job that she is supposed to and if I want it done, looks like I'll have to do it
myself. I'm thinking I'll have to have a little talk with her and explain what I
expect. I hinted around each day but she never picked up on it or chose to ignore
my hints. I told her where I kept the broom and where I kept the paper towels
and windex. Then last but not least I'll address the little issue of her habit that
gags me when I see it, cause I sure don't want any of the kids picking up THAT
bad habit on my bus! NO NOSE PICKING!

Ok, I think I'm done venting

[BirdbyBird]

Oh, yes The admin shuffle of employees that they would just as soon leave the position. ....and they place them with the "good" staff that they feel have the maturity and talent to handle them......you get to care the extra load.... for being talented....... Union protection has a down side...... Sometimes these individuals fall apart on their own....good luck....and I hope that the students and their families don't have to suffer from a staff member that "just doesn't get it" and/or "just doesn't care."

[VickieP]

Oh Ava, I'm sorry you're having such a bad time right now, but your H-E double toothpicks gave me a chuckle! I'm sending good thoughts your way that your health and your work goes better.

[AlmostThere]

Sorry to hear what's been happening to you physically and on your job. Just sucks!
Keep venting here. It's good to let off steam and not bottle it up.
Will keep you on my heart.

[avalen]

your right Tina, I do worry about the kids suffering over this, these type
of children tend to be very sensitive to germs too and she is suppose to
sanitize the seats and seat tops every day as well as cleaning the windows.
I have one little cutie that tends to be one with open mouth, tongue on
window little boy, then on the next run the one high school girl that is
so sensitive to the germs and she is all over as well. She gets sick and
starts having numerous seizures. I'm not a germiphobic but I'm so very
aware of the germs carried on these kids, their wheelchairs and other
equipment and then add to the equation, this bus aide that is coughing and
hacking and picking her nose. I can only say, please God,
give me strength and knowledge to deal with this correctly so that I
don't become the bad guy.

[avalen]

not that age would have anything to do with it, but this aide they gave me is
80 years old, very cross and cranky with the kids. Arizona is a right to work
state and they can't make them retire. I'm hoping she'll decide to retire after
she gets her fill of my handful that go "off" at the drop of a hat. The important
thing is that these kids are kept safe and that their ride is a safe ride. I feel
I will have to have lots of video documenting going on, see what I mean, I'm
becoming the bad guy already. This woman falls asleep all the time and thats
terms for dismissal.

[mtngal]

(((Hugs))) Ava! Sorry to read about your troubles.

[Liz]

When she begins on your route, document, document, document any problems that arise....with you, with the kids, with the parents....everything. Then, go back to your supervisor with the documentation. Been there with aides, and it does take time, but in the end, she'll either improve or they'll have cause to dismiss. Meanwhile, ((((hugs))))

[mitch5252]

Ava, I'm so sorry you're having to go through this.
You're a strong woman...you can deal with it.

[OutandAbout]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Ava. I say, be the bad guy. No one wants her, so you are the "lucky" one to get her. As Liz said, document everything and then push the political correctness nonsense aside and do what's right for the kids and you. You see this kind of nonsense all the time and the only one who benefits is the one that should be fired. Sending hugs your way to cover all you are going through. Linda

[dayspring39]

Oh! my!! Ava I feel deeply for you... almost the exact thing happened to me and when supervisors believed the aid that had been there for 2 months over me I had been there over 5 years... you feel like your hands are tied behind your back... this aid even fell asleep (as well as numerous other things) on the bus with 3, 4 and 5 years old... you have to drive the bus watch the children and the aid all at once and she is a pain... well I retired 2 weeks later.... and the supervisor that took her side got fired a while later... that said it does not help your situation at all...
Keep at it and vent whenever you need to... we do understand and have listening ears... wish we could go out to lunch and visit... but we are far apart! bet we could swap stories
I hope your health problems do not worry you to much... I pray God will help you through this...
Kathleen

[BarbaraRose]

Ava, is that aide position volunteer or paid? Maybe Linda could work with you as an aide. Probably doesn't pay enough (if at all) for her tho.
I can understand how hard it is to go to work each day with that kind of stress to deal with! It is no fun! Just take a deep breath and tell yourself "this too, shall pass".

[BirdbyBird]

Ava...what Liz said. Document the date and time and the inappropriate behavior in a staight forward manner. Then again in the positive side, the "administration" may very well have placed her on your run because they knew that you would do the documentation that is so required. I have had staff that I would have loved to write up but I couldn't because I didn't have the documentation needed. Are you allowed to take a picture of her sleeping? Whatever comes, you know that you will do what the kids need. (And it helps if parents notice things and call and write administrations ....)

[Nasoosie]

80 years old? A nosepicker? Falls asleep? GOOD GRIEF! Take some picks of those behaviors so others can KNOW how inefficient for you it will be to have yet another 'client' on your bus rather than a much-needed helper for you!!!

Wishing you luck in your resolution of this new problem, Ava! Hang in there, and stick to your guns. Conscientious bus drivers of handicapped kids are hard to find.