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Smoking at fuel pumps, students getting off the bus and skipping school, students getting off the bus at stops they are not approved for. These are some of the safety concerns brought by a bus driver who’s contract was not renewed after she complained to the Transportation Coordinator and Superintendent.

Barbara R. Hunt was a bus driver for the Walton School District. She has not been re-hired and says it is because she pointed out what she claims are safety issues to her supervisor, Mack Work. At the recent Walton School Board meeting, she told the board she believes there is something wrong with the system, and when there is a problem you should go to the person and let them know, taking additional steps if needed. She said employees should not be punished for trying to do what is right. She told the board she feels she was not re-hired due to retaliation by Work, not due to a contract.

Some of the complaints include employees smoking at the fuel pumps while she was present. Hunt told the board, when she addressed the issue, the employees, including Work, responded with profanities. She also said Superintendent Carlene Anderson told her to keep her mouth shut. She referenced seeing students she had dropped off at school later at the local service station, smoking. Hunt said she was told not to call the parents about their students not being at school. Another student wanted to get off at an unapproved stop and when she would not let them she asked for help, but coach Marello did not respond in the way she feels he should have. She said she has concerns about safety and asked why she was not re-hired when the county seems to always need drivers.

Hunt asked for her job back and for assurances the safety issues are addressed. She also said there are a lot of employees intimidated by Work, Miller and Superintendent Anderson.

Board member Sharon Roberts said she spoke to Anderson about smoking around the gas pumps and that Anderson would speak to Work to have it corrected. Roberts also read the job description, which included enforcing rules such as smoking. She told the board, if this is retaliatory action against Hunt for her actions, then she had a problem with it.

Chairman Barnhill said there is to be no vote on the issue because there has to be a recommendation from the Superintendent. Roberts asked about hearing the matter because it is listed as an employee grievance on the agenda. District attorney Ben Holley said the grievance was not filed in the correct amount of time, 10 days after the superintendent’s decision. He also said, since Hunt’s contract was not renewed, she is no longer an employee so it is not an employee grievance. He also indicated the hiring comes from the Superintendent, not the Board.