School Bus Drivers Hope to Rally Community Support

Saucon Valley School District bus drivers and their supporters say they plan to attend the Tuesday meeting of the Saucon Valley School Board of Directors, and they are asking community members who support the current bus drivers to attend as well.

The issue that has them rallying support is a proposal made earlier this year to consider contracting for school bus services outside of the district, which currently maintains its own fleet of buses.

After an announcement was posted on Hellertown Patch by current school bus driver Noreen Resetar—in which she said she fears her job will be lost due to outsourcing—many readers said they oppose any effort to cut costs at the expense of the current drivers.

Many cited the relationships their children have with their drivers in voicing their concerns.

"We were extremely disheartened to hear the news of possible outsourcing!" commented a reader named Amanda. "If a few dollars can be saved, is it worth sacrificing the bond that is already in place?!? Our daughter is only in 1st grade, but her bus driver (ED #28) has made such a positive impression on her starting in kindergarden, that has made it a lot easier to let her get on that bus knowing she is in genuinely caring hands."

Another reader, Beguine, wrote: "Busing is not the place to cut the money. Many of these drivers live and work and PAY TAXES in our school district. I won't presume to know where budget cuts should be made, but drivers is an obvious hands off."

The school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Audion room at Saucon Valley High School.

As of Friday a meeting agenda had not yet been posted on the district's website.