9 Investigates Union County school bus issues

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Some Union County school bus drivers are speaking out only to Channel 9.

"I just think everyone needs to be aware of this," one driver told Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster. They asked us to change their voices and not to show their faces out of concern for their jobs. They are all Union County school bus drivers and all have been employed by the district's transportation department for years.

"We just want the kids to be safe," a driver said.

They allowed Foster to look through daily logs in which bus drivers report problems, big and small. They say problems are rarely addressed right away and that some school buses are not being properly maintained.

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They also say they have been instructed to move certain buses off the lot when state inspectors arrive. Asked who told them to do that, they replied: “Supervisors or mechanics.”

"Mechanics you believe are told by their supervisors?” Foster asked.

The drivers said yes.

One bus driver sent pictures that she says show mold on a retired bus. She says that bus was cleaned and is back in service, but she said some buses currently in service still have mold.

The drivers also ask why bus No. 302, which injured a student last year when a hose burst and sprayed antifreeze, is being used again as a spare bus. A lawsuit in that case is pending.

Several drivers also told Channel 9 that another bus No. 115, had a similar incident in February, but they say it is not documented on any reports.

As Channel 9 reported three weeks ago, the school district has been investigating its own transportation department since November. The drivers to whom we spoke question the reliability of the investigation.

"That's not objective. That's not going to be a fair, thorough investigation. That's just going to be so they can say 'We've investigated it and we found nothing' and they're going to sweep whatever they find under the rug," one driver said.

Foster requested interviews with Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis and each of the nine school board members to discuss the allegations. They either declined or didn't return her calls.

The school district's spokeswoman, Tahira Stalberte, sent Channel 9 this statement: "We take these and all allegations seriously and staff is and has been investigating the information you have listed. I am unable to answer specific questions about matters related to the investigation."

Channel 9 learned that for this school year, the Union County school transportation department lost $835,546 in state money because the school district's budget rating with the state dropped 7.7 percent. The rating is based in part on the district's efficiency and the number of students riding buses.

More than 32,000 Union County students ride school buses. The drivers to whom we spoke hope that school district leaders address their concerns with safety and maintenance. Otherwise, they said there's "an accident waiting to happen."

"These are kids. I know there are companies out there that have dump trucks that take better care of their fleet that (carries) dirt than our fleet that (carries) children," one bus driver said.

A source told Channel 9 that Richard Kingsberry, the former transportation director, was fired. Stalberte confirmed that he no longer works for the district.

Here is the entire statement from Stalberte about why officials would not agree to an interview:

"Due to an ongoing investigation with the Transportation Department, I will decline an on camera interview about this matter. We take these and all allegations seriously and staff is and has been investigating the information you have listed below. I am unable to answer specific questions about matters related to the investigation.

"In response to your additional questions, Mr. Kingsberry is no longer working in Union County Public Schools. Bus #302 is in service as a spare bus and Bus #115 is out of service at this time."

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