By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org

WALLED LAKE, Mich. – Apparently the Walled Lake school board made the right decision about replacing its bus drivers.

The drivers demonstrated on Wednesday that they lack the dedication necessary to transport students to and from school every day.

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The Walled Lake school board, like many across the nation, recently decided to replace the district’s unionized bus driving staff with a private bus company, beginning in the fall. The move was made to help the district eliminate an estimated $10 million budget deficit, according to the Detroit News.

Many of the district’s 120 drivers reacted to the decision by calling in sick Wednesday, forcing the cancellation of school. The district advised parents to drive their children to school today because it wasn’t clear if enough bus drivers would report to get the job done.

Heavy labor costs, fueled by the contract demands of unionized school employees, are a major reason why so many K-12 districts are struggling financially. The decision to dump the union bus drivers and replace them with drivers hired through a private company will save Walled Lake about $1.4 million per year over the next three years, according to the news report.

The private company will reportedly consider hiring some of the laid off drivers. Considering the drivers’ antics this week, perhaps the company should think twice.

Transporting children to and from school is a serious responsibility. Drivers who make that commitment must be counted on to show up every day they’re scheduled to work, regardless of any other factors.

The many drivers who called in sick Wednesday clearly shirked their responsibility and caused thousands of children to miss a day of school.

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Their actions suggest they weren’t qualified for the job in the first place. Nobody should feel sorry for those drivers who participated in the sick-out.