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Post by Lenny on Sept 27, 2007 16:20:50 GMT -5
Today I received a call from St. Cecelia's School whom I drove a school bus for 20 years before retiring. They explained that they are having a hard time keeping bus drivers for one reason or another and wanted to know if I would consider coming back to drive for them.
I retired because things between me and the parents and students were not going so well due to lack of discipline. Now I am collecting Social Security and the amount they pay drivers ($15.00 per hour) would certainly put me over my allowable limit of earnings and I would lose some social security.
Besides that, I really do not feel like driving a school bus again because discipline and problems with parents have gotten even worse since I left which is probably why they can't keep drivers. So why would I want to get involved in driving a school bus again at this stage of life when I am happy being retired and babysitting for my grandkids?
I know you all think I am nuts because of my thinking on various issues however, I'm not nuts enough to drive a school bus again.
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Post by Preacher Mike on Sept 27, 2007 16:48:51 GMT -5
Lenny : would you make a diffrence in any one kid life if you went back ? some thing to think about (Pray)....
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2007 16:52:30 GMT -5
GO BACK AND WORK FOR FREE THEN YOUR SS WONT BE AFFECTED.
LENNYS QUOTE:
I retired because things between me and the parents and students were not going so well due to lack of discipline.
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SO YOU WERE FIGHTING WITH THE PARENTS TOO? HUH.?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2007 16:56:02 GMT -5
 Hey Lenny, you know Jimmy has a good point..you can always offer your services as a Volunteer!
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Post by Preacher Mike on Sept 27, 2007 16:59:24 GMT -5
and use it as a tax deduction!!!
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Post by Lenny on Sept 27, 2007 17:02:42 GMT -5
The state of Florida nor the Diocese will allow volunteer drivers for school buses. You must be a paid employee and come under insurance and state regulations. You must also have a valid state commercial drivers license with a passenger endorsement and you have to show that you have employment as a driver of a commercial vehicle to get one.
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Post by Lenny on Sept 27, 2007 17:09:57 GMT -5
Yes Mike....I could make a difference in child's life. I really never had a problem with the child until the parent got involved. If you follow proceedure and write a child a discipline form, the child pretty much adapts to it. The parent however always argues that the child is never wrong. The teacher is wrong. The Principal is wrong. The Bus Driver is wrong. But never the child. The parents threaten law suits for harrassment and demand that the teacher or bus driver be fired.
This is why they can't keep bus drivers. They work long enough to see how things are and then quit. Teachers can'r wait to retire.
Right now, there are 60 kids who's parents have to find another way to get their children to and from school because the bus driver quit. Now they want me to come and drive. Parents need to smarten up and learn to respect teachers, administrators and bus drivers and back them up when their kids misbehave or they'll have to drive their own kids to school I guess.
Besides, I feel I am already making a difference in people's lives volunteering at Hospice and providing care for my grandchildren. Where would I find the time to do that if I went back to work?
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Post by Preacher Mike on Sept 27, 2007 20:10:34 GMT -5
Lenny the next time you are around a school board member, ask if they though of a bus monitor, our school busses have a parent ride with them, they are volunteers they ride a difference bus each day, they do the write up on kids that do not follow the rulers. The school hold court on Saturday morning for any student that has more then two cases. If they don't comply they are off the bus. There is a lot more to this but that the general idea.
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Post by LARRY on Sept 28, 2007 12:42:00 GMT -5
 HEY LENNY...THEY GOT A NEW BUS FOR YOU TO DRIVE |
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Post by Preacher Mike on Sept 28, 2007 12:47:44 GMT -5
Hey that's a Texas Redneck bus....
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Post by LARRY on Sept 28, 2007 13:18:35 GMT -5
;DSORRY MIKE...THAT'S A FLORIDA REDNECK BUS |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2007 13:43:56 GMT -5
ABSOLUTELY! you ought to see some of the "muders" down here.
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Post by Lenny on Sept 28, 2007 15:54:56 GMT -5
Here's the bus I ordered brand new in 1989 and drove until 2004. That's me in the middle and the two maintenance men John and Frank whom I worked with inbetween my morning and afternoon bus runs. Mike...we tried the monitor thing but it didn't work out to well. The monitors were friends with the parents of kids who rode the bus so if it became necessary to write a child up, it caused friction between those friends. So the monitor would be selective with whom they reported for violations of the rules and that caused problems with other parents. Besides, they were all volunteers and you couldn't count on them to be there for every bus run. The school could not afford to hire anyone to be bus monitors. We installed video camera's on the bus and that worked for a while but fizzled out when the kids became used to being visdeo taped and couldn't care less. You wouldn't think this would be in a parachial school but it is. You have to be a bus driver to understand all that goes on. Best thing I did was put in my twenty and retire.  |
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Post by Barry on Sept 29, 2007 0:06:55 GMT -5
Lenny if it means anything I'd say stay retired
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Hey Lenny, you know Jimmy has a good point..you can always offer your services as a Volunteer!
BCS Improved Poster Award 