Our views, Bus drivers

Legislators should consider using KRT to transport students

JUST how strong a hold special interests have on the Legislaturewas shown over the weekend when school bus drivers rallied againsteven discussing the use of public transportation to get children toschool. That is pretty silly. Transportation costs in West Virginiaschools are a major concern. The federal No Child Left Behind Actcould raise those costs higher. Under the act, students can transferout of neighborhood schools deemed deficient. Counties could berequired to transport more students if there are mass transfers.

To keep costs down, Republican Delegate Ron Walters of KanawhaCounty suggested lawmakers look at alternatives.

This drew an immediate call-to-arms by school bus drivers.Protesting is their right, but the proposal by Walters deserves afull hearing.

Taxpayers already subsidize public transportation, including theKanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority. While not everycounty has a public bus system, enough do to warrant consideration ofusing public or even private buses to help out county school systems.

The Associated Press quoted Walters as saying, "If the KRT goesright by the school and can pick up students . . . then that sharingshould (be) saving money. We ought to at least think outside thebox."

School bus drivers and their union are against the idea. KennethLegg, executive secretary of the West Virginia School ServicePersonnel Association, said state law allows such use of publictransit authorities, but he opposes it.

Gary Kestner, an Ohio County bus driver, told the Elkins Inter-Mountain newspaper, "We are the safest drivers in the nation. Onceyou start paying in peanuts, you're going to get monkeys."

Oh, come now. KRT drivers are not monkeys.

This is simply an idea, something our cash-strapped state needs inmultitude. House Education Committee Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta iswilling to give the idea a hearing.

Good. This issue goes beyond school bus drivers, who do a verygood job driving in pretty rough terrain on pretty crummy roads infrequently poor weather. The problem is a legislative branch that alltoo often is too afraid to challenge the status quo.