BY KELLY CURNUTTE
Enquirer Contributor
BATAVIA -- The Batavia school board will hold a special meeting Monday to discuss whether to contract with Settle Bus Service -- a move that displeases the district's 16 drivers.
"I have spoken with 12 of the drivers, and we are concerned about the safety of the kids," said five-year veteran driver Rex Parsons. "I also worry about the quality of substitute bus drivers. Settle will transport for a profit and they will have to cut somewhere. The sub drivers will not be paid as much as we (full-time drivers) are."
Steven Abel, business development representative for Laidlaw Transit Inc., which owns Settle, said he doesn't anticipate a problem with substitute drivers.
"We work with a large base and we would have people develop experience so they know the roads (of Batavia) and people get home safe."
Mr. Parsons and Ron Reisinger, a bus driver in Batavia for five years, said they were given several reasons the district is considering a change: Its mechanic is nearing retirement, the gas tanks have been removed from its garage, it wants to convert to diesel buses and it has trouble finding substitute drivers.
James Fite, Batavia school superintendent, could not be reached for comment. The additional cost or savings to the district if the change were made was not available.
"Why are they penalizing me and releasing me from my job?" Mr. Parsons said.
But Mr. Abel said Settle would immediately re-employ the drivers. "We would follow normal hiring procedures and state law regarding school bus drivers."
Debbie Lang of Batavia, who has driven for the school district for 10 years, also is opposed to the change.
"I'm not happy that it's Canadian-owned," she said of Laidlaw Transit, which is based in Burlington, Ontario.
Mr. Parsons, a Batavia resident, agreed. "I'm concerned that my money they take out of my real estate taxes will go to another country." The drivers also have safety concerns.
"We are concerned because Settle's current policy is not to go on private property," Mr. Parsons said. "They will have to pick up those kids on a busy road."
Mr. Abel said his company would consider changing that.
"We would be looking at routes that the school would design initially," he said.
"If the school has historically gone down private roads, you just have to be concerned about getting permission. . . . . We would be open to it."
Some drivers have become attached to the children and feel that the family atmosphere will be lost.
"It's really upsetting," Ms. Lang said. "I thought we were as a family. You've got people that are dedicated and have the same route and the kids are familiar."
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at Batavia Middle School, 800 Bauer Ave.
