Reader comments
Audit finds school bus drivers with DUIs, arrests

"Because of privacy issues, auditors can't tell the districts who the employees are." You have got to be kidding me! Nevermind the safety of the students and others on the road...we need to protect the privacy of the offender. No wonder things are so screwed up.

My bus driver was a sexual predator who would now be in prison for his behavior with students on the bus. This happened in Davis county 35 years ago.

....may want to check into the teachers while your at it? Instead of waiting for them to surface with criminal charges like in the case of the two West High teachers....c'mon BofE, grow some and take care of our kids!

The A.C.L.U.(the lobbyist for the criminals)insists that the criminals have privicy.

I think the bus driver who screamed at my daughter once for no reason is probably one of these criminals. She is the nastiest, crankiest person ever. They really need to protect children from not just criminal bus drivers, but busdrivers who are abusive to the children.

Maybe BCI should be running criminal record checks on school employees every day, like they do for people with concealed weapon permits.

The schools should make this part of the terms of employment for everyone they hire, and get around the privacy issue that way.

Anyone who objects should be thrown out of work in the education bureaucracy!

There might be a slim possibility that your child was screaming at the bus driver first, but I am sure that you never considered that. Bus drivers get very little respect and absolutely no support and are always at fault even though they have to transport disrespectful little brats to and from school.

re: bus driver
I am also a bus driver and your comments are uncalled for. The kids on my bus are not disrespectful little brats and if yours are, it's probably a reflection of their driver. Treat people and kids with respect if you want respect in return. If you feel that way about your students, you should be the first to resign. As for the drivers who fit the mold of this article, you should be next in line to resign, without being asked to. You make the rest of us look bad and put a black eye on all of education.

with "bus driver" I know some of those kids must be monsters, I've heard the stories! When I was a kid and rode the bus and the kids were bad, the driver would just stop and let them walk! Politically incorrect, I know in todays age. I can see the moms' jaws dropping everywhere, but the point is that one thing we as taxpayers can do that wouldn't cost us a cent is to toughen up the liability rules as applies to school kids. I hear the same kinds of things all the time from teachers also, that they have to "put up with" all the troublemakers in the classroom. So why doesn't the legislature address these kinds of discipline issues first and work on the "money" issues later? Make the jobs a little less stressful. There's no reason in the world that ANYONE should have to put up with nonsense like that from kids.
Whenever I hear of lobbying from UEA its not related to discipline or empowering teachers (or bus drivers)to get rid of troublemakers, all its about is more money!

I agree with nottyou...there is a possibility of a convict driving the bus for little children near aneth, utah...and someone should check that out, rather than find out later..better safe than sorry!!

name calling.

The commentor at 4:15 stated an awful situation, but that was 35 yrs ago, I'm
sure that bus drivers are checked for serious crimes, before they are allowed to drive children. Some of the records for DUI, driving issues, domestic issues could be yrs in the past and the drivers are more responsible now.

I agree bus drivers don't get alot of respect, I personally would not want to drive a bus full of children around. I have seen and heard rude comments out of the windows of buses by the children at stop lights.

Since the parents here have spotless records they need to take on these jobs to ensure safety.

you know what they say, " if u can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen" !!

How long ago were these violations? Is someone to be punished for life for a teenage DUI? Good Lord! How can people who claim to be christian refuse to allow repentence?

Some of these comments make me throw up. Bus drivers only work part time at with hours that conflict with many other jobs they could take. Bus drivers do not make any great wage that is gonna be a primary income. Sure, I am confident that bus drivers have screwed up in the past in dealing with kids or in how they drive.

There is NO WAY someone who committed a crime 3 years, 5 years, 12 years, 30 years ago should be allowed to drive the bus. PLEASE!!!!!! People don't change. People are not capable of growing or "learning a lesson". If someone pays their debt to society they should pay for it the rest of their lives. Some of you are closed, narrow minded, dumb a**es.

I am not suggesting that we allow the local rapist, molester, serial DUI, road rage, or candy taker just have easy access to our kids. I am suggesting that each case be considered on a case by case basis. Interviews, background checks, references, and work history should all be utilized to make good decisions.

How many of you have no skeletons?

Hey "Figures" -- maybe Utah should "grow some" and start taking education seriously. You have the distinction of spending the least on educating your children. How small-minded and short-sighted! To the bus drivers, teachers and all the hard working education support staff, I salute your efforts in such a thankless state. To the general, conservative rabble who regularly gripe about money issues in the schools, get involved and find out how hard pressed schools and teachers really are instead of just griping. You all are getting MORE than what you pay for already.

Looks like the media is looking to sensationalize yet another stupid story.

The media makes me sick with all them over exaggerating everything.

Did any of you actually read the report that this article is written about?

Convicted, It never goes away
Every other person in Utah has a Felony Conviction
That is because the Courts and those running the Courts are Corrupt
You should visit your local Court on Monday Morning
You be the judge and see what is going on

There are always exceptions and reasons to nulify or deflect from the point. Are there bad children that probably shouldn't be allowed on the bus? Of course; but let's not divert from the point of this article.

When it comes to the protection of our children, there's no doubt about it - the right of privacy should not even be a consideration. If you're an upstanding individual and have nothing to hide, then by all means, apply for the job. If not, seek other employment that doesn't put our children in unnecessary danger.

They districts are already checking out the teachers! Each teacher must pass a background check and go through fingerprinting before they are even hired by the district!