Westbrook School Department’s Transportation Department has finalized the termination of one administrative assistant position to make way for the new transportation coordinator.

Peggy Bowden has accepted a position within the department as a school bus driver starting at the end of July. Bowden, who has been with the department for 29 years, had been working as a bus driver before she was promoted to her position as administrative assistant in the spring of 2010, according to School Superintendent Marc Gousse.

Bowden and Joan Harmon, the other administrative assistant, said they have been running the department’s daily tasks for the last few years. Last month, bus drivers had publicly complained that the school department did not need to look elsewhere to fill the transportation coordinator job.

Gousse said both Bowden and Harmon were experienced in their support-staff roles, although Harmon had been working in a support-staff position longer.

According to Gousse, Bowden was informed that her position was being terminated during a meeting on July 5. She was then told a bus driver position was open if she wanted to accept it. Gousse said she has signed on for the new job.

Bowden was not in the transportation office this week, according to Harmon, who answered the phone at the department.

“There are good people up there. Once Cindy [Button, the new transportation coordinator] has the opportunity to sit down with those folks, everyone will come together as a unit. A reduction in force is always difficult and it always impacts someone,” Gousse said.

– Suzanne Hodgton