WINSTON, Ore. (KMTR) -- Bus drivers in the
Winston-Dillard School District are concerned that they could lose their jobs if the school board contracts out its student transportation system.
The school district started talking about contracting out the bus service a couple of months ago and was immediately met with concern.
At a board meeting Wednesday night in Winston, community members and school bus drivers spoke out against the idea. But despite their complaints, the school board is moving forward with the process.
Linda Crager is a third-generation school bus driver who's been working for the district for over seventeen years. She says the new plan would be an injustice to the community.
“We've averaged up all of us and approximately we've all worked there an average of thirteen years,” Crager says of the group of school bus drivers currently working for the district. “And then that's what’s being taken away from our community. We all feel like we'd just be outsourced to a company that is just for-profit. And that's basically all it is.”
Wages and benefits for drivers would be cut dramatically if the district contracts out bus service, so many of the long-time drivers would be forced to find new jobs.
The district is currently drawing up a proposal to solicit bids from private contractors.
The next School Board meeting on the matter is on November 14 at 7:00 PM at McGovern Elementary School in Winston.
