Name: "101 buses did not move:" Officials discuss "sick out" effects in Cumberland County
Uploaded: 2021-11-09T13:33:00-0500
Duration: 1347246
Description: Lindsay Whitley, associate superintendent of communications & community Engagement, and Kristi Harden, executive director of transportation, discuss the nearly 100 school bus drivers who refused to work Tuesday, demanding better pay.

We’re also following the flight delays and tomorrow’s impacts after a plane crash at RDU. Plus, Only on WRAL, why a high school student is not allowed to participate in one of the most important events of his life.. and how he and his family are fighting for him to graduate. Watch WRAL-TV at 11 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 11: Cooler weather tomorrow morning but we’re about to warm up. When and where temperatures top 90 degrees

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Athens Drive Magnet High School and Conn Magnet Elementary School won national awards Saturday at the Magnet Schools of America's annual conference.

Top two magnet schools in the US are in Wake County

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Lindsay Whitley, associate superintendent of communications & community Engagement, and Kristi Harden, executive director of transportation, discuss the nearly 100 school bus drivers who refused to work Tuesday, demanding better pay.

the number of regular busses versus pc. Busses that did not. Um So the number of E. C. Busses that did not move It would be about 63. So that that some of the majority where you see. But. Mhm. Over your tune up tour over your meetings with these drivers? Have you heard mostly from the E. C. Drivers? We saw just a decent side protest outside school board headquarters this morning as you know lasted for several hours and most of them weren't. You see drivers? So the tuna tour we're going to areas so it's not like a concentrated it's not concentrated with just E. C. It's a it's a blend and honestly no. Um Now you know we are hearing more from the EC drivers but during the tuna tour. No it was pretty balanced for people that don't know what BC means. What do those drivers typically what are their responsibilities and what kind of Children are they transporting to and from school. So they transport our special needs students. Uh And that that workload. It could vary as with any other school bus driver. Um They may transport wheelchairs but also a regular school bus driver can do the same but child secure mint. Um I mean it just the difference in dealing with a special needs population versus um the general population. So they have additional training that they go through just and that is primarily the secure mint piece of it because it's the busses transportation. Um But yes so there is a specialized training. It's not just a regular you know um As far as the state goes. Yes a certified Class B. CDL holder can operate a wheelchair bus. Um So yes a regular bus driver could drive it. Not all E. C. Busses transport wheelchairs but the drivers are required to do more in terms of being touched with families. And this is what they told us this morning that if they get a special needs job it's up to the school bus driver to contact the family to see what stop. The rangers have to be made for the the child be a wheelchair or whatever might be. And one of the complaints is the fact that they have to do that on their own time. They're not on the clock when they have to make this contact and a lot of times they can't do it while they're driving the bus when they turn the key off they're off the clock. So how can you make an employee works basically over time and not pay them. So these were some of the same concerns that came up during our our meeting and once we learned of the protest since then we have gone and gained additional knowledge and we're working to put things in place a lot of times as a school bus driver. You know we get in the mode of making things happen. You know there's so many things that happen out on the road where you don't you may not have an immediate person to reach out to. So in that spirit of making things happen. Yes drivers will reach out to families and coordinate times the the overall arrangement of the E. C. Run and setting up accommodations with any student on an ec. Bus that happens in our E. C. Transportation office. So you tell me they're not required to make any contact with family before they go out to pick up the child. So we asked that they coordinate the time. Time is because time will vary if I pick up two wheelchairs. The time that it takes me to pick up a wheelchair is different from the time it takes me to pick up a walk on student. You know you have to secure the bus. You have to let down the lift so that time is different. So we do ask that they communicate the times but you referenced setting up the transportation that's done here at transportation if they call the house and they don't get contact. Were told by some of the bus drivers. That means on some occasions they have to physically drive out to the house and I've called the parents or the child so they know what the one is going to be like for them the next day and that is off the clock. And that should be considered over time. So again some of those concerns were brought up during our meeting that we had with them and we put measures in place that is no different from any driver when they get their route, they're going to communicate with parents and families what time they can expect them? There are situations where they can't reach someone, just a regular driver in Annecy driver and in that same situation drivers may take it upon themselves to go ahead out. I mean we recommend that they go out, see where the stops are. This takes place during our dry run season at the beginning of school, when we have busses running before school starts. So yes, I mean any professional driver is going to familiarize themselves with where they're going. That's a large piece of equipment. I mean, you may not know if you have turned around space, You're saying that's part of it is, can I just confirm that drivers and regular bus drivers across the board 21 that's the starting pay. So everybody's pay rate is going to vary depending on their years of service, but the starting pay for all school bus drivers, it's swell to me. When's the last time they had a pay raise across the border? So I don't know that 105 days. So now some of, some of the drivers say that they've worked here for 3-5 years and they haven't had a raise, they're still making less than $13 an hour. What do you think they should be paid. So I agree with many of the people in the district. I mean I think everybody deserves a pay raise. I do um you know to set a number on that. I mean, I don't know but I do, I mean we all worked really hard, our support staff, I mean they go get it day in and day out, he had 100 busses this morning. How much disruption would you say it caused the school systems? That's kind of hard to say um there was disruption, I mean anytime students, parents can't rely on a means of transportation, there will be disruption to the household to the educational day. Busses ran late. Um I don't know that I could put a number on how much disruption but it did cause disruption. Some of the bus drivers say that they are not going to at least the bus drivers I talked say that they're not going to make pick up students again tomorrow, which you're, what are you doing knowing that that's probably gonna be the case. Yeah, I think communication has already been set up to go out to families schools. If not, I'm sure it will be coming um But yeah, we'll follow the same steps that we did today, we'll just maintain that communication, what's your biggest concern moving forward knowing that 100 busses were out today and some of the drivers, we spoke to say they aren't going to have these busses rolling until they have something in writing, saying they're going to make a livable wage. Um so for me, you know, this work has always been about transporting students to and from school safely each day. So my concern would be the impact that we're having on students. How long is this going to be? Although they really are saying they're going to hold out until they see the pay raise, so how long Cumberland County schools sustained this shortage, So I'm not sure, you know, we'll face each day, we'll do what we can to make sure we take care of our students. Did they call in sick? Is that we can get calling six people just not show up, call in sick. And is there a requirement at some point for them to show notes that they were out sick after two days or three days before they face some type of disciplinary action. So I don't know if it's disciplinary action, but typically after three days we can require a doctor's note, Are you going to do that? That is the plan at this point. Do you know how many kids didn't show up to school today because they didn't have a way to get there? No. How many busses? You said there was 60 busses? What did you have to do to fix that? Those 60 busses? What took place? That's the disruption? I think we're looking for not so much. We know there's disruption obviously, what did it take you to fix those 60 bucks communication, I mean we reach out to families, we reach out to schools to let them know what the circumstance was. Um there are some routes that ran late. Um yeah, that's what the disruption looked like on this end. All right. So we took care of this morning, we got kids in school. I have bus drivers who are telling me they are not coming back this afternoon to pick up the kids. So now you've got kids at school parents at work. What's the plan? If that's the number It goes from 100, 150 and you've got kids stuck at school. Is there a plan in place? Have you discussed that? And have you heard that? So I have not heard that. I do know that schools, we were on the phone with schools even leading up to this, schools are already making plans. There are members of their staff in the building that holds Cd Ls. So schools are making plans to get students home, we will get students home. What would you say to the school board? Right. It's ultimately, we know that the money is set by the state, but then the local school board can, can give those those increases from, from other funds. What would your message be to the school board knowing that this is still up in the air? Well, I feel confident that the school board is going to do what's best for students. Any decision that they make? I mean, they will base it based on what's gonna be best for students. What would you say to the county commissioners? Because obviously, The school asked for 88 million only got 83 million for their budget this year. So that shortcomings probably where those razors could have came from, What would you say to them going into this year? Find the money for the bus trip to the county commissioners, Certainly anything that they can do to help us provide that service to students. We are appreciative of it. You're doing it on back up here. That was great. And this morning, dr Connelly came out to address the protesters saying that it was a shortfall Funding from the Commissioners, and if the commissioners could provide that additional $6 billion dollars every year, then bus drivers would get a raise. I understanding that correctly, or is that more than that you're saying that you're not going to give a raise the bus drivers until every district employee can get a race. So, it's complicated. There are many factors. Um, I know that we hear the concerns of our bus drivers and we are listening. Mhm. I don't let the diesel truck, you know what this son is something else we, I need to be, where y'all are at um oh, it is, it's just getting your back though. Um, we are listening. I know that there is a december 7th Finance Committee meeting of the Board of Education and they do plan to take up this topic um of discussion. So we definitely hear the concerns of our bus drivers. Um many of you have mentioned the raises and the increases in pay and that's really across the board. When you look at all of our premier professionals, our teachers, our principals, it's been a while since we've had a, you know, district wide increase in pay. We've been able to provide bonuses and other things like that, but we don't always get a bump and pay each year. So yesterday when I shared that we really have to look at the entire organization that's still applicable because there are many individuals that we probably need to look at their pay, but specifically speaking about our bus drivers, we understand their concerns were listening and we're working towards a win win solution. It was mentioned that in the budget there all the bus drivers kind of grouped together who were the other people who are grouped together with the bus drivers who have in the budget. So they are considered classified employees. So you have certified employees. You think about the principals and teachers that require certification and then you have your classified employees, cafeteria workers. Teacher assistance, bus drivers. Mhm. So who was the last group to get a raised, you know, within the school district when you say to get a raise. So we obviously know bus drivers haven't gotten a raise of teachers, has the superintendent have, you know, cabinet members who has gotten, so you're trying to set me, uh, so when you say a race, there are different funding sources. And so it's been a while since we've had like a sweeping statewide race. And so most of our personnel um, are paid out of state funds. And so whenever there's a race or there's an increase at the state level, we have to make sure we have the funding to increase our employees who are paid out of local funds as well. And so we want there to be equity across the organization in that regard. So when you say an increase, there have been bonuses. So those one time bonuses of course all employees received the $1000.01 time bonus that was just, you know, this past month. Also as you all are well aware, um, The Superintendent received a one time bonus as part of his evaluation and just the work that was done during the pandemic as well as his Cabinet members. It was $10,000. And then each cabinet member received a $5,000 bonus one time, But no dollar raise. No. Yeah. Their salary. And so there could be, is, it's kind of challenging to answer that question accurately. There could be sometimes every position has the ability to be reviewed and some individuals are reclassified or perhaps they're bumped to a different level because they've taken on more duties. And so those situations happen in an organization of our size throughout the months and years. However, if you're speaking of sweeping across the board, all workers in this division received a, you know, 3%, raise. That that has not happened recently. And so that that's what we need. And so when we say we hear our bus drivers, we do and we're listening and we want to work toward that when one solution, but there are many others who also maybe deserve a a bump in pay. We had commissioner Charles Evans out there this morning as well telling protesters that DR Connelly has never asked for money to fund raises for bus drivers specifically. Can you just confirm what Cumberland County schools has requested in funding in the way of pay raises. So once again, very clearly, and I can share that with all of you. We've laid out budget business cases, whereas a an administrative team, we've outlined the budget needs in our school district as part of the most recent budget request, we did request an increase in pay from our local commissioners for our um workforce. That was an increase for our certified personnel as well as our classified personnel. So if someone in that is somewhat inaccurate to say we have not requested an increase in pay for bus drivers because we have, but we've requested it in the form of classified employees and that group of bus drivers as part of that group. So what would your message be to commissioners? We appreciate all that they're doing. This is a challenging time for everyone. There are so many needs out there, but we continue to identify the needs that we have in our school system and we look forward to working closely with them continuing that work to get those needs funded and so we appreciate what they're doing. But of course we do have additional needs urgent. You don't have bus drivers showing up for work today, they're saying not tomorrow, how urgent is that message are you going? It's a very urgent message. We we need an increase and um we want to be able to increase the pay of our premier professionals are bus drivers and teachers are cafeteria staff. Everyone has worked and continues to work extremely hard on behalf of our Children. And so I just have to say everyone has joined together. I heard stories today about, you know, bus drivers who finish one route and then they went to other schools and support it and picked up Children. And so in the days to come, we will continue to listen to our bus drivers. We will also continue to pull together to make sure we can get our Children to school safely. We will continue to communicate with families, making them aware there will be a district communication going out this evening, mainly making parents aware that this situation could continue into next week. So we want them to be prepared to do whatever they can to continue partnering with us as we navigate through this situation. Committee started looking good to have a meeting coming up believe where do they feel that there might be some funding that could help the bus drivers just to bust. It's premature to state that. But I do think that we are listening and we do want to work toward a win win solution to see if we can increase the pay of our bus drivers, other classified and certified personnel. So we're looking at it. Um, I would say everything is on the table at this point, but we, I think that's a big thing. We want folks to know that we're listening, we hear you, we understand your concerns and you know, there have been several meetings prior to this particular situation and those meetings have increased because we understand the urgency and the importance of this topic and so we are listening and we're working towards that win win solution. So I don't know Quick because the 3% raised has been suggested for someone who's a teacher making $40,000 a year, 3% of 50,000 as opposed to 3% of $12.21 is tremendously different. So 12,000, cent at 3%. Now the bus drivers make $12.56 then go to McDonald's and make 15, so you face the same limit as every employer in terms of providing a competitive pay so that you can keep employees these 3% really a realistic race for someone who's making $12.21. And so I think that is why the school board is taking a look at the pay of our bus drivers. You know, if we compare it to other wages in the area and we look at what other districts are doing and we look at the average salaries, you know, there there could be, you know, just that possibility that we do need to kind of hone in on bus drivers and increase that pay however, is premature to say what will happen at this time, but I'm optimistic that we're listening and based on some of the conversations I've heard between the administration and bus drivers, there's a lot of positive energy. They understand that we're here for the kids and so we're going to continue to work toward that um win win solution. There was a meeting with Dr. Common, some representatives from the bus today around 10:00, can you talk about that meeting? What took place? Um Miss Harden that meeting this morning? Um if you want to share kind of what took place. Okay, I was handed back slide. So um the meeting at 10 this morning, that was our bus driver advisory council meeting and I think we referenced that yesterday as well, but that is a mixture of drivers. There are two from each attendance area and they bring concerns that we then worked to navigate those concerns together. Um Today we had a we had representation from the health services department here in Cumberland County Schools, so it was very productive. Um We've got some some new ideas on the horizon, we were able to address some concerns and we even have additional concerns that were that we are taking back to get more answers the bus drivers that are still on the roads. Um Is are they working more hours? Is that gonna be over time? Absolutely. If it if it falls into that category, Yes. Hey, no problem. Thanks. Everybody run. No. Mhm. Okay guys, that's it. So you've heard it here.

Heather Leah

"101 buses did not move:" Officials discuss "sick out" effects in Cumberland County

Officials discuss "sick out" demands from nearly 100 school bus drivers for Cumberland County

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I'm meteorologist K Campbell in the wr a severe weather center. It's been a warm spring so far. In fact, when you look at the spring to date numbers, it's actually the second warmest on record at RDU running about 4.5 degrees above normal and for rainfall about an inch and a half below normal. And we really need some rain. You know, it's been a pretty dry April so far we've seen less than an inch inch of rain this month tomorrow. It's a nice dry day for us, but I, you know, at least it's gonna be a nice day, right? 72 in the Triangle, as well as Siler City in Wilson. 70 in Rocky Mount. 67 though in Roxboro and 67 for Roanoke Rapids, a little cooler to the north. 76 degrees in Fayetteville, 73 Goldsboro in Smithfield and 75 in Southern Pines. It is going to be a little bit cooler in the morning because cold front moved through 50 degrees for the low in the triangle, right around 7 a.m. by 10 a.m. We're in the upper fifties, lunchtime, mid sixties and then in the lower seventies during the afternoon, dinner time, temperatures dip back into the upper sixties. A cold front passed earlier this evening and behind it, we are going to be drying out but cooling down briefly. It's not a huge drop in temperatures, but we will see this dip in the jet stream delivering some cooler air. We start to see a reversal of the jet stream flow and that changes really on Sunday with a warming southwest wind at the surface and at the jet stream level, that's going to drive temperatures up to 80 beginning on Sunday and the eighties will last into next week with a strengthening ridge of high pressure. So we expect a big climb in temperatures just throughout the course of the weekend, 48 degrees Friday morning, but back up to 80 by Sunday afternoon and then much warmer weather is on the way for next week. We're looking at seventies for the next few days with mostly cloudy skies for the weekend days. The sun's back out though next Monday and with a warming wind, we're back in the upper eighties three days in a row all the way up to 89 on Tuesday. Tuesday might be the 1st 90 degree day of the year for parts of North Carolina.

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Good evening. I'm Gayle Hurd. Welcome to tonight's drawings for Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a seven. Our second number is six and the third number tonight is a nine and our pick three. Fireball number is six. Joining me for tonight's show is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first winning pick four number, it's zero. Our second number is a nine. Third number tonight is three and our fourth number is one in our pick for fireball number. There it is. It's three. Again, we're turning now to the Carolina cash five and no one was the top prize tonight. Tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $620,000. Good luck. Everyone here's their first win in cash five number. It's a 29. Our second number, it's 37 3rd number tonight. It's 34. Our fourth number is lucky 13 and the final number in our cash five this evening is 12. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Get your winning numbers right here every night on your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

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Ball. Good evening, Ruan, I Randy trainer. Tonight. We have another life changing jackpot. It's worth an estimated $130.2 million. So, get your tickets ready here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 26. Right after that America. We have the number two and congratulations to Gina Magnum from North Carolina. She won $50,000 playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning numbers tonight 20 47. And let's round it out tonight with the number 22 and tonight 20 powerball number, that's gonna be 21 and your power play multiplayer is four. Let's take another look at tonight's winning numbers. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

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Good afternoon. I'm Luis Fernandez. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings for Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three number is two, second is eight and the third is eight and our pick three fireball number is five. Join me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for mcconnell LP. Now let's move to Carolina pick four. The first pick four, number is five. The second is one, the third is three and the fourth is zero and our pick four. Fireball number is five. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education and thanks for your support.

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Brian Shrader flies over the site of a plane crash at Raleigh-Durham International Airport approximately three hours after the accident.

Seen some activity just in the past 10 minutes or so. I want to take you outside Sky five right now for a live look at the scene. We saw a van being escorted to the runway there and someone got out and now there appears to be a really careful inspection of the debris going on. So we're working to confirm if that may be the NTSB investigation team arriving at the scene. Let's zoom out and give you some about where this is. There are two main runways at RDU International and this is in the grassy field next to the runway that mostly serves terminal one on the east side of the airport, that runway remains closed while this investigation continues at the top of your screen. That is the other main runway that serves terminal two, mostly that runway is open. So we have two things going on here that could affect your flights for the rest of the day and maybe even into tomorrow, the airport takeoff and landing capacity is roughly reduced by half because they are only working with one runway. And if you have a flight coming out of terminal one, maybe Southwest, you're going to have to take that crossover all the way out to that other runway. It's going to add a lot of extra time.

Sky 5 flies over RDU plane crash 3 hours later 

A UNC Health physician and pilot were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a small plane crashed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).


Sky 5 flies over plane crash at RDU

RDU Airport Authority gives an update on a plane crash that sent a physician and pilot to the hospital. The crash occurred Wednesday morning on a flight that took off from Wilmington.

<p>Landguth first, I want to extend my thoughts to those affected by this morning's aircraft accident and thank our first responders for their quick action to respond. The airport authority and its mutual aid partners responded to an aircraft accident at RDU involving a general aviation aircraft. The accident occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. in the grass next to runway five, right 23 left. The flight was arriving from Wilmington, North Carolina. The A the aircraft is owned by medical Air Inc and operated by UN C air operations. The aircraft had two people on board, one pilot and one passenger. Both were transported to area hospitals. The federal A Bush administration issued a ground stop that was lifted at approximately 1130 this morning. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have both been notified. The National Transportation Safety Board is en route and expected to arrive within the next hour at which time we will conduct an accident investigation. Rdu's runway five left 23 right reopened to departing and arriving aircraft around 11:30 a.m. this morning. Are you experiencing approximately 70 delays and several arriving flights were diverted to other airports? Until ground stock was lifted, travelers should contact their airline for the latest updates regarding the flight status. And of course questions about the identity and condition of the pilot and passenger should be directed to UN C health. And at this time I'll try to answer any questions. You may have, uh, the one, any other accidents in, in the past. I'm not familiar with any other accidents have occurred with that operation. I don't know, uh, that's the role of the National Transportation Safety Board. They'll actually come in and do the investigation. Uh, and at some point in the future, they write up a report and determine what the cause of the accident was. You know, that there was no notification to the airport authority or to the FAA uh about any type of emergency on board. Do we have a guy? We don't, all we know that we've got them out of the airplane and we've got them transported to local hospitals. We know situations like this and delays have a ripple effect on, you know, flights. Do you have any idea what type of impact we'll see here in our view and for not sure, but what we're going to encourage everybody to do is reach out to your airlines. We'll be able to give you real time information about the impact of your particular flight. Ok. I believe some of them went to Greensboro and I think a couple went to Charlotte as well. What, what to be impacted due to the NTSD. Say that one more time at this point in time, what we call the west side of our airport is now open the investigation they'll conduct will all be on the east side. So at this point, we are anticipating normal operations returning to normal operations from this point forward. I don't think that anything that they're doing regarding the investigation or where they would have to investigate would have any impact to the west side of the airport. No, the aircraft is still on the airfield itself. It's on the east side of the field. So terminal one that runways the east side of the field, that's where the debris field actually sits, the west side of the field is open and operational and safe to operate. Not that I'm aware of in operations for you throughout this event today. What was your main concern concerning the passengers that were in the internals? Right. I think our primary focus when, when that accident occurred were the two people sitting in that aircraft? Our primary mission is to make sure we can get to them and try to rescue them and try to make sure that we can get them in a safe condition as fast as we possibly can. Uh secondarily is trying to figure out then how we recover and get our operations back up and running. Mhm. How does that affect? What goes on term? Yeah, so great. Question. So the team has figured out a way to get all the aircraft they're gonna operate at terminal one. Your Southwest develops. Uh We've got a crossover taxi way that we can actually get them through our general aviation aircraft. We've got a crossover taxiway, we can get them to. But the rest of the uh accident scene is actually kind of isolated and closed and locked off. Yeah, you're terminal one at this point in time. Once they can get back on their schedule, it's going to be a normal operations. All right. Thank you guys. All right. Thank you. Grab your phone, right.</p>

"101 buses did not move:" Officials discuss "sick out" effects in Cumberland County

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