26 WS/FCS bus drivers absent as protests continue

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school bus drivers are continuing to protest this week due to low pay and safety concerns.

Twenty-six drivers were absent Monday morning. The walkout started last week, impacting more than 100 bus routes. 

Employees say they have concerns about their safety due to inappropriate student behavior on the buses, including fights, disrespectful language and illegal substance use.

Kim Shouse has been a bus driver for five years and says she’s constantly dealing with kids misbehaving. 

“I was pulled over to the side of the road at six o'clock in the morning because they fighting," Shouse said. "I can't even drive the bus because they all over the seats, fighting.”

Shouse says she’s also been personally threatened by students she’s reprimanded, who have said their parents will come and beat her up. Another bus driver for the district was physically assaulted by an adult in October. 

“I don't want to be fearing for my life because a parent done got mad at me," Shouse said. "I don't want them to be meeting me at my bus thinking they gonna beat me down.”

Another big issue for bus drivers is pay. The average wage for a driver in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is $20 an hour. That’s higher than Guilford County, but $1.25 lower than the state average. Shouse says it’s not enough. 

“When we go apply for an apartment now, we got to have three times your income. We can't go nowhere," she said. "Apartments are $1,300 a month, $1,500, $1,700 — we don't make that.”

The district approved an 8% pay raise for transportation staff last year, and is seeking funds from county commissioners to further increase their salaries.

In an email to WFDD, a spokesperson said the school district is “aggressively working to resolve this situation,” and held several meetings with bus drivers to hear their concerns. 

Superintendent Tricia McManus says she will implement bus suspensions for students who misbehave, seek charges for parents who threaten drivers and continue to advocate for higher pay.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.