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WakeEd
The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system as it prepares to undergo historic changes. Will the new school board scrap the diversity policy in favor of neighborhood schools? Will year-round schools be converted back to a traditional calendar? How will the new board respond to growth and the school construction program?
WakeEd is maintained by The News & Observer's Wake schools reporter, T. Keung Hui. While Keung posts information and analysis on the issues, keep us posted on your suggestions, questions, tips and what you're doing to cope with the changes in Wake's schools.
Bus driver resigns
A veteran Wake school bus driver walked the plank today after inappropriately letting a child off his bus
As noted in today's online article by Leah Friedman, Charlie Taylor resigned after a parent complained that he had returned her 6-year-old boy to a bus stop and left him there alone.
While we're not necessarily saying this is how it happened, very rarely will the school district fire employees. What often happens is that the employee is encouraged to seek alternative employment.
According to school officials, the child got on the wrong bus yesterday. While the bus was taking the child to the correct school at North Forest Pines Elementary, the child should have ridden a different bus.
Taylor took the child back to his bus stop instead of driving him to school. School officials say Taylor did not follow proper procedure in returning Brady to the bus stop.
Luckily for the crying child, he walked to a neighbor's house. The neighbor took the child to school.
T. Keung Hui
T. Keung Hui covers Wake schools.
Comments
Mystery piece missing
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 16:36 — Forget_not_the_...Seems to me there has to be more to this situation. No veteran bus driver would do this unless the child promised earnestly that his parents were at home....that is the only thing I can determine happened here.
As a first grader in Atlanta, the first day a a new school I rode the bus, I could not recognize the stop in front of my new home. The bus driver and I rode around for hours. I did not know my phone number either. I was taken to the central bus office until they could locate where I lived and I was put in a car with a bus official and taken home. Guess what!! I was not traumatized!!! It shook me up a little and I was insecure about riding the bus, but my parents put everything into perspective and put me back on the bus the next day. Yup no whining for me.
With disbelief, I watched this child and his mother perform on television about the injustices forced upon them by the bus driver leaving him at the bus stop with no mother at home. The mother was causing the child more trauma than the event.
You have all seen it happen. The mothers who increase anxiety levels in their children by making an issue larger than life to the child, instead of dealing with the issue in an adult way via adult channels away from children.
Yes, I agree TERRIBLE things could have happened to that child and yes the bus driver should not and probably would not have left the child at the stop without a good reason. My gut just says a crucial part of this story has not been told.
However, WCPSS needs a scapegoat to cover for year round, sorry bus guidelines or poor communications or whatever and this poor man is going to suffer.
Luck is no excuse - Randy
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 18:18 — Voice_of_Reason_Just because there was no injury doesn't excuse the potential. If I left a seven year old child alone at home, I could have my child taken from me by social services. I don't see much difference in this case except that is actually more serious. Mr. Taylor takes responsibility for that child when he accepts that child as a rider.
I do think WCPSS should re-assess their cell phone policy for these type of situations. I fully understand why they don't want drivers on cell phones while driving though.
[If I were on the BoE] I would ask WCPSS for an audit of the training of school bus drivers with special attention on the procedures they teach to handle such a situation. I would also ask WCPSS to provide me with what they are going to do to prevent this from happening again. {I doubt if the current lot care}
How was this child injured?
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 23:48 — Randy Rockett (not verified)How was this child injured?
Physical none, emotional yes
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 10:17 — Bob_SconceTo my knowledge, there was no physical injury to the child. He was, however, apparently fairly shaken by the entire experience, to the extent that he's scared to ride the bus. (But, it's pretty easy to scare a 6-year-old into not wanting to do something again.)
But, so what? The point is that there was the potential for injury, not that there was actual injury. Firing a gun into a crowd is serious, even if you manage not to hit anybody.
quick question; If this guy
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:18 — bigwinniequick question; If this guy was a "veteran", why didn't he know the procedure for something like this? You cannot tell me that nothing like that has never happened before...maybe not to him, but surely they have bus driver class and/or manuals, procedures....something??
The Golden Rule ?
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 06:41 — Voice_of_Reason_Mr. Rockett,
I would understand if I were fired and count my blessings that nothing happened to that child. Some mistakes get us fired, hurt, in jail, end our life, or even result in others killed. These are life lessons. Mr. Taylor did not fight it, shown by his resignation. I hope he learned from that experience and finds employment elsewhere. BUT, it is not compassionate to society in general to let everything slide, especially when someone puts others in danger....otherwise God help us! Tough love is sometimes the best.
Voice_of_Reason
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 14:05 — Randy Rockett (not verified)How the child was this injured?
Foregiveness is not carte blanche
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 06:46 — Dadof3Voice of Reason: Well said. I have no anomosity towards the bus driver in question, but the failure of the execution of basic protocol is a big deal, in any sphere of concern. Some breaches must mean termination or the equivalent. We can (and should) still forgive, however.
Bus Driver Resigns
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 06:30 — MissVIs radio contact possible between drivers and the transportation office?
Miss V
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 13:52 — Randy Rockett (not verified)WCPSS bus drivers are not allowed to talk on cell phones while on the job. It's policy!
Never mind radios
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 07:45 — Voice_of_Reason_Cell phones are everywhere. Even a cheap pay as you go cell phone could be issued to bus driver that don't have one for these type of problems. He could of asked someone to call someone in WCPSS transportation.
Mr. Hui
Does WCPSS have a number/responsible person for drivers to call if a driver has this sort of problem, or any other problem? If they don't then they should.
Never mind radios
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 10:04 — KeungHui (author)VOR,
You can call your child's area transportation manager or the main transportation number at 856-8050 if you have a bus problem.
Bring Charlie Taylor BACK!
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 23:05 — Randy Rockett (not verified)This would have been a great opportunity for a parent to teach their child a life lesson by being a better person and showing compassion to Charlie Taylor-16 year veteran bus driver.
Look on the positive side: now you get to spend time with your child that you otherwise would not have. They grow up quickly. Time flies by so fast! The research says they're watching and your children will probably grow up just like you-their 1st teacher!
Does anyone remember the Golden Rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?
Parents and WCPSS : Next time don't let compassion ride in the back seat!
All the best to Charlie Taylor and his family! May you prosper beyond your wildest dreams now!
A lack of compassion?
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 11:19 — fiestamomThe bus driver is lucky the 6 y/o child didn't wander into a busy street, get kidnapped etc. Thank goodness this kid went to a neighbor's house.
The bus driver needed to get fired, not allowed to resign.
LOOK CLOSER
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:11 — Randy Rockett (not verified)The "squeaky wheels" in our culture desire extremely cruel answers to their demands more and more these days. Does 16 years of outstanding service in a thankless job for minimal pay with even less benefits not show you the sacrifice people make for our children? When did we move to the one mistake and you're out rule? The bus drivers that I've known are wonderful hardworking people and are like you and me-doing the best we can with what we got.
again, I ask as a "veteran"
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 10:15 — bigwinnieagain, I ask as a "veteran" how can one be unaware of the proper procedures?
hyperbole?
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 10:05 — Dadof3Firing is "extremely cruel?" One bus driver is all, and vice versa? 16 years means an egrious error is OK?
Sorry; not buying what you're selling
Bring Charlie Taylor BACK!
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 23:03 — Randy Rockett (not verified)This would have been a great opportunity for a parent to teach their child a life lesson by being a better person and showing compassion to Charlie Taylor-16 year veteran bus driver.
Look on the positive side: now you get to spend time with your child that you otherwise would not have. They grow up quickly. Time flies by so fast! The research says they're watching and your children will probably grow up just like you-their 1st teacher!
Does anyone remember the Golden Rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?
Parents and WCPSS : Next time don't let compassion ride in the back seat!
All the best to Charlie Taylor and her family! May you prosper beyond your wildest imagination now!
Bye Bye
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 22:17 — g88ky07resigning was the correct thing to do because how would you EVER defend such a dumb_ss action. To take the child back and kick him off the bus because his mom was too dense to know which stop to use, or better yet drive him to school HERSELF, is beyond belief.
For the mother, you might want answers, but you'll NEVER get them from Wake County!
The idiot is no longer available to be held accountable and the "diversity system" NEVER is!
Too Big !!! And Too Complex !!!
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 17:42 — al_in_garnerProcedures be damned.
This year-rounder was endangered by a system that is just too big and simply too complex. And its going to keep happening over and over and over until some innocent child is killed . . . again.
The safety of six year olds can NOT be designed into a system.
$10 / hour drivers, driving $100,000 buses (on $4.50 / gallon diesel), delivering million dollar kids is a formula for disaster.
Break Up WCPSS. For these children.
File this one under LUCKY.