West Fargo Bus Drivers after meeting with Administration about their compensation (Madison Quinn, KFGO)
WEST FARGO (KFGO) – West Fargo buses will take to their routes when school resumes Thursday.
Bus drivers met with Superintendent Beth Slette and West Fargo Administration today to go over their concerns about compensation. The meeting comes after the district said last week that parents should have a backup plan to get their children to and from school because some drivers wouldn’t work.
Special Education Bus Para Professional Karen Kraft wanted to tell parents that drivers will always be there for the kids and would never not show up.
“I want to say we are very committed to getting your children to school on the first day, and everyday,” Kraft said.
“We are here to address the growing concerns about competitive wages and the lack of being able to hire drivers because of the current wage structure. We have asked for years for an increase in wages due to the great responsibility we have getting students to and from school and extracurricular activities safely,” Kraft added.
Kraft went on to say that last year, West Fargo bus drivers drove just under a million miles and expects this year to haul 4,000 kids a day. Operations Supervisor for the buses Kenneth Steiner said administration will not negotiate a pay increase until a 12-week market study in progress to evaluate surrounding schools compensation of bus drivers is finished.
Superintendent Beth Slette gave a brief statement saying it was a ‘positive meeting’, but didn’t answer any questions.
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