Video of meeting with superintendent shows what led to Lee County school bus drivers sick out

Bus drivers are now talking about what pushed them to stay home on Monday in Lee County’s east zone. They say it was their best way to get the school district’s attention.

One bus driver told WINK News she’s worked for Lee County schools for 20 years and still makes $19 an hour.

And with Lee County schools down at least 100 drivers, the burden she feels is like never before. Tuesday afternoon alone she said she had to make 40 separate stops.

In a meeting between drivers and the superintendent, the drivers said “enough.”

Lee County bus drivers say they feel overworked, underpaid, unsafe and disrespected when they go to work for the Lee County schools.

During last Thursday’s meeting with the superintendent and other district leaders, drivers did not hold back. One said, “I’ve only been working here 11 years and on these 11 years that I’ve been working here I make the same exact money to the penny as these new drivers with no experience.” They said, “we’re not respected at all.”

Drivers shared stories of students, teachers, principals, parents and even their own supervisors mistreating them.

They shared the fear they feel driving buses full of maskless kids, especially when three drivers have died from COVID-19 this school year.

“Our job is to get each and every one of our students to and from school but how can we do that when we are behind the wheel wondering is this the day I’ll catch COVID,” said a driver at the meeting.

The superintendent took notes, but drivers made it clear they want to see change and fast. “We are willing and ready to take action.”

On Monday drivers did just that. 83 in the east zone called out sick. The district sent an email promising better communication between drivers and leaders and KN-95 masks to better protect drivers from COVID-19.

But the district also said it’s prepared to punish drivers who organized the sick out.

The district said it understands the drivers’ concerns and it is looking for solutions. But when it comes to paying the union that represents the bus drivers says they’re in negotiations but the school board has to do their part to make sure the money is there.