Dear community member,
The South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) bus drivers need our support. SBCSC pays drivers significantly less than nearby districts (up to $5 less per hour), resulting in high turnover, low morale, and an ongoing transportation crisis where there are not enough drivers to get every kid to school on time each day. In fact, some students have been getting to school up to two hours late every day for months.
This is a labor issue with serious negative community effects: not only are drivers demoralized, but students miss important tests and see their grades fall, working parents stress as they must find alternative ways to get their kids to school, and teachers have to juggle lesson plans with only partially full classrooms.
Even residents without a direct relationship to the issue suffer, because a successful city demands a thriving public school system.
What can we do?
The bus drivers, represented by AFSCME #686, are currently negotiating a new contract, and wages are a priority issue.
- Contact SBCSC Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Spells, urging him to agree to raise driver pay so that it’s competitive with nearby school corporations: email at asksbcsc@sbcsc.k12.in.us, or call at 574-393-6128.
- Call or email the members of the SBCSC School Board, urging them to support driver pay increases that are competitive with nearby school corporations. Individual members' contact information can be found here.
- Encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same by sharing this email and posting to social media.
- Attend the next SBCSC Board Meeting on Monday, March 19, at 5:30 pm, at 215 S. Dr. Martin King Jr. Blvd., to show your support for the bus drivers.
- Email the Coalition for the Common Good at coalitionforcommongood@gmail.com to sign up for more updates.
When buses aren't on time, everyone suffers. But when we all come together and do our part, everyone benefits! Supporting the SB School Corporation bus drivers means supporting the common good!