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New policy for bus drivers creates buzz at School Board meeting Date published: 9/15/2009
BY PAMELA GOULD Katrina Duncan told the Spotsylvania County School Board she found questions about her sex life completely out of bounds for a physical to assess her fitness to drive a school bus. Sharon Calahan said she couldn't understand why she needed a breast exam as part of that physical. And Cindy Robinson said she was terrified after twice being told she had a thyroid problem. "I was frantic. I feared for my life," Robinson told the board. She then held up a sheet of paper she said came from an endocrinologist she consulted. "I have a piece of paper that says my thyroid is perfect." Each of those complaints was leveled against the school division's director of health services, Pat Smith, who is a nurse practitioner. They were among complaints brought before the school board by school bus drivers in response to a policy passed in August that requires them to get their annual physical exams by the school division nurse practitioner. About 50 school bus drivers came to last night's School Board meeting to complain about the policy and ask that it be changed. After Smith was named by one driver, Assistant Superintendent James Meyer asked speakers not to use names. However, the school division has just one person in that position. Debbie Marshall Neunsinger said she found the policy un-American. "This is the United States, where I have the choice to choose my physician," she said. Superintendent Jerry Hill said after the complaints that whenever he hears comments such as those, there "are always some kernels of truth." He said the decision to change the policy was made out of concern for safety but added that he heard things from the bus drivers that were news to him. "Some issues I heard tonight certainly for the first time," he said. Other board members concurred. Board member Linda Wieland said she wrote "pages of notes" on the information from the drivers and said the matter "will be revisited." "Sometimes, through no one's fault, there are things we don't know," she said. "There are some problems we need to look at, and we'll do that," board member Jim Gillespie said. "I heard some things tonight I would like to look back and revisit," board member Amanda Blalock said.
VA DOE requires all school bus drivers have a physical yearly (12 months) Even though Fed requires 24 months the stricter requirement goes nto effect for school us drivers. All counties and cities in VA require a yearly physical for school bus drivers
the policy was enacted for "consistency" and the "safety" of our children. Any physician allowed to perform a DOT physical has guidelines to follow which allows for consistency. Per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin: A DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months. The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner's certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure. So why the waste of funds on healthy drivers? http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/do
Nice respect for key educational supports who do a vital and difficult job. spotsy's disfunctionality is really starting to show. maybe it's time for parents and taxpayers to take back our schools?
of this policy should be looked at when it is necessary to "trim the budget". I cannot think of any reason this policy is in effect and has been for at least 10 years. It can't be for liability purposes - any doctor can perform DOT and drug screenings. It can't be "to save $$" as the average fee for drug testing is $50 - even if they tested all drivers every year and had to eat the cost, it's still less than the cost of having a NP - let drivers pay for their own physical and spent the $$ where needed.
I was able to locate some information on the SCPS website; Ms. Smith is listed as a director. The pay scales for directors are listed from pp. 310-316 in the SCPS budget, which can be found at http://scsweb1.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/finance/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=iYfiQb99540%3d&tabid=1437 . The smallest amount her salary could possibly be is slightly north of %83,000. I hope this is helpful. To the bus drivers: I am sorry that you had to go through such humiliation and fright. You are wonderful.
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