Several Windham town councilors called on the School Department this week to do more in response to an incident described in a statement released this weekend describing how a suicidal school bus driver was allowed to drive his route last month.

“Unfortunately, I think this statement will be the end and that essentially nothing will happen,” said Town Councilor Blaine Davis, who said he was frustrated executive session rules restricted him from saying more.

“I do not feel that the school committee or department is willing to pursue this matter. The council’s hands are tied legally,” Davis said. “I feel there are problems in the future that could be avoided by taking things seriously.”

Superintendent of Schools Sandy Prince did not return phone calls asking about the statement and incident.

According to the statement, a bus driver arrived at work in early December and met with his supervisor. The driver told the supervisor he was “very upset” about a private matter, but would finish his morning run.

“He wrote out his resignation, gave it to the supervisor, repeated that he was all done and then added that he had a gun in the woods – with no further explanation,” the statement reads.

“Then the phone rang. Due to the fact that no one else was available to answer the phone, the supervisor was compelled to pick up the phone. The supervisor could not ignore it, because it could have been an urgent call. The driver left the supervisor’s office at that moment.”

According to the statement, the driver boarded the bus, but the radio was switched off and he could not be contacted.

The statement read:

“The supervisor soon learned, however, that he had, in fact, boarded his bus to take his usual morning bus run. Obviously concerned about his driving a bus in his emotional condition, the supervisor called the driver’s physician for advice as to how the supervisor should best respond, called Town Rescue services and called the Police Department.”

The statement then said the police were called and encountered the driver at a school and escorted him away. The statement does not say which school, and did not say how many kids, if any, the driver had picked up.

The statement said all the school committee members have been briefed and are satisfied with how the incident was handled.

When asked if she was satisfied with the school department’s public statement, town councilor Donna Chapman said, “No. I have questions still.”

“If in fact this statement is accurate, it would lead me to believe we have no crisis management policy in effect, and I would not like to believe that of our school department,” said Chapman.

“A person was sick, and was reaching out for help. They were let down badly,” she said. “If this would happen with that supervisor, what else is that supervisor allowing?”

School committee member Michael Duffy said he was not briefed about the incident until last week, but said he believes the statement the school department made is accurate. There are things he would have handled differently.

“I do not think from the reports that are out there that the supervisor allowed the driver to get back on that bus,” said Duffy. He clarified that his understanding is that the driver did pick up kids with the bus, but not with permission from the supervisor.

“If I was in that situation, I don’t think I would have picked up the phone,” he said. “I would have made sure someone was with him until some medical help arrived.”

“But, being an armchair quarterback you can have perfect hindsight,” cautioned Duffy. He said there are a lot of unknown factors to consider, but thought it was odd that that the supervisor called the bus driver’s doctor.

“That will be one of those small things I wouldn’t have done,” he said.

“It states the facts, and that’s my opinion,” said school committee member Mary Wassick, who was not aware of the issue until last week.

The issue became public after town councilor Kaile Warren announced at the Jan. 8 town council meeting that he was investigating an incident with the transportation department. At the close of that meeting the town council had an executive session meeting with Windham Police Chief Rick Lewsen.

Since then, the school committee has had three special meetings in executive session on Jan. 9, 14 and 16. Each one was listed as concerning “a school employee matter.”

“My position is (the supervisor) took a call when she should have made a call,” said Warren. He said he finds it implausible that an incoming call could have been more urgent than the situation she was already facing.

Warren said he is still investigating the incident and will protect school employees who come forward to him with more information.

While Windham Town Councilor Carol Waig did not wish to comment about the statement, Councilor Bob Muir said the issue was a school board matter.