In response to the media accounts regarding an incident in December involving a bus driver, we feel compelled to correct the record. Since this is clearly a personnel matter, state law forbids the School Department from releasing information about investigation and discipline of individual employees. We can, however, provide the following information.

In early December, a bus driver arrived at work one morning and met with his supervisor. He told the supervisor he was very upset by developments in a private, non-work-related matter and said that he was all done from work, but that he 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. 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. The supervisor immediately went to seek the on-site replacement driver and then to seek the regular driver, as the supervisor was concerned for his well-being. The supervisor was not able to find the driver and immediately radioed the bus to see if he was on the bus. There was no response (apparently because the radio was turned off, as required for safety reasons, during fueling). 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 Police greeted the bus as the driver arrived at the school and escorted him away. The driver has not driven a school bus since that day.

Contrary to the inaccurate charges levied against the School Department and/or its employees, the supervisor did not permit the driver to drive after knowing of his emotional condition.

The Windham School Committee, which is responsible for the governance of the School Department and school employees, has been briefed on this matter, and is satisfied that it was handled appropriately.