In addition to student assignment, the Wake County school board will get an update today on the status of a ninth-grade center for Panther Creek High and vote on a plan to give bonuses to bus drivers who show up for work.
Wake says it's having a problem getting bus drivers for all the 40+ buses that had been sidelined at the start of the school year but brought back following the bus complaints. Staff will present this proposal to pay drivers a $250 bonus for their good attendance between Sept. 20 and Nov. 27.
During the work session, the board will hear the latest on the search for a ninth-grade center for Panther Creek High.
Don Haydon has been scheduled to present both items before he resigned Monday as chief of facilities and operations.
UPDATE
Staff explained today that by the end of November they expect to have hired enough permanent drivers to cover all the additional buses. But until then, they said the bonuses could encourage more of the current drivers to come in so they don't have to do as often things like asking mechanics to work overtime to drive.
If successful, the bonus plan could be brought back.
The board approved the bonus plan.
Comments
I thought a regular paycheck
Tue, 09/18/2012 - 08:30 — tropicalgirlI thought a regular paycheck was compensation for showing up for work. I really need to talk to my boss this morning. I've been showing up for work every day - can I get my $250 bonus?
Seriously, though, I know there are a lot of bus drivers who have done the best they could in the midst of absolute chaos. The ones who hung in there between the beginning of the year and now should be the ones getting the bonus. Giving it to the drivers who show up between now and the end of November is more of an incentive or bribe to do their jobs not a bonus for a job that was well-done.
Vouchers?
Tue, 09/18/2012 - 20:47 — eztaylorMaybe the voucher proponents will support transportation vouchers...demand choice in transportation.
I don't think it's a good
Tue, 09/18/2012 - 13:11 — danofncI don't think it's a good idea because I don't think we should do anything to encourage drivers to come to work if they are sick/contagious. They drive around busloads of kids, after all.
So which is it? Do we want
Tue, 09/18/2012 - 15:57 — WakeCountyParentSo which is it? Do we want buses on the road running their routes consistently every morning/afternoon, or do we want to run the risk that somebody may spread germs?
I see the advantage of an incentive -- it's a carrot to create a work ethic that (apparently) isn't in place, if I'm hearing the discussions at the work meeting correctly -- but I agree with the other comment. Reward the ones who stuck with us during the bad, not the ones jumping onboard based on this carrot only.