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WRIGHT TWP. — There will be no classes at the Crestwood School District for a second day Thursday, thanks to a lack of mandated clearances for bus drivers, Solicitor Jack Dean said Wednesday afternoon.
The mandatory clearances are supposed to be conducted by the contracted company, Rinehimer Bus Lines, but the district is responsible to have the clearances on file.
The lack of clearances in district offices was discovered during an audit by the state Auditor General’s office this week.
Dean said Rinehimer provided about half the required clearances Wednesday, “Which leads us to have to cancel school tomorrow (Thursday).”
He added: “It is our intent to make every effort to get school opened on Friday. Can we get them opened on Friday? I can’t answer that yet.”
Attorney General Eugene DePasquale has dramatically increased scrutiny of school safety in periodic audits conducted for all districts. He issued a media release Wednesday afternoon urging schools to “make certain all school bus drivers have undergone all required background checks after a Luzerne County School District canceled classes for that reason today,” mentioning Crestwood by name.
“Whether districts hire their own drivers or use contractors, the districts are legally responsible for making sure all drivers have the appropriate qualifications and background clearances to interact with students,” DePasquale said in the release.
Teachers accompanied students home on all buses Tuesday after the issue was discovered earlier in the day, officials said previously.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association — the parent union for the Crestwood teacher union — also issued a media release noting the Crestwood problem and quoting the district’s teacher union president Bill Kane criticizing the practice of handing student transportation to private, non-union companies: “I work every day to make sure all employees are properly trained, supported, mentored, and qualified for the jobs they hold. With outsourced employees, the district and association lose local control and oversight.
“It’s obvious that outside companies often care more about the bottom line than the best interests of our kids. These bus drivers are members of our community and our friends, and we recognize that if they were able to form a union this would have never happened.”
Next steps
Dean said additional action will likely be required after the initial problem is resolved. Replacing the bus company is an option but not immediately in the cards because of the number of routes run through the district. Under such an emergency situation, the district could legally cancel the contract and hire a new company without a public meeting in an “act and ratify” style, with the board approving the emergency action at an upcoming meeting after the fact.
Dean also conceded the lack of clearances in district files suggested an oversight by someone in the district, which would likely require additional steps by the administration to correct. But that also will likely wait.
“That’s step two,” Dean said. “Step one is to get our kids back in school.”
DePasquale’s release noted a January audit found 10 drivers in various districts who should have been banned from transporting students because of criminal convictions. He also noted audits have found 58 districts in 28 counties missing required documentation for bus drivers.
The release lists the documents that districts are required to have for all bus drivers: Valid driver’s license with S-endorsement for operation of a school bus, annual physical examination, criminal background check, federal criminal history record, Pennsylvania child abuse history clearance and Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form PDE 6004.