Budget Cuts May Eliminate Bus Monitors l WPRI.com

We are the only state in the United States that "requires" bus monitors. I don't hear about kids getting killed in other states because they don't have bus monitors.

This budge cut it is so ridiculous. It is only affecting our students and teachers. But of course not of the politicians. Like always, the richers keep getting rich and the poors just keep getting poor..What else is the governor going to take away from our school. The buses all together? What's next?

I believe that bus monitors should be kept for Elementary schools and special needs students. My son has special needs and must have a monitor or he will run into the street. If this cut is approved, I will have to drop off and pick up my child from school.

why would you want to take away the job of someone who doesnt make much money and protects our children and helps assist the driver so that the ride to and from school is safe, after all this was put into affect for the safety of children, it always comes down to the little guy, how about cutting the astronomical pay that principals get! Why cant we start, at the top , thats where all the money is, do away with some of the high paying jobs that are not nessasary, leave the person who works 3-4 hours a day for 180-195 days a year, half of them dont even make 5000.00 dollars a year, nor do they have benefits,

I am a bus driver and our monitors keep our children safe!!!!!!!!!!I can not stress the importance of their job! A bus driver needs them to keep a safe eye on the children and we need to focus on driving!So if the monitors loose their jobs and one of you big shots child,grandchild,or love one gets hurt by a bus I will personally put a HUGE sign up saying I told you so .If you do not think their job is important ask a school bus driver of all the blind spots we have like behind a bus ,ten feet along side,ect. ect.Is a child going to have to loose their life?

Wait until a child gets hurt or killed then you will be singing a different tune !!!!!!!!!! I ask all bus drivers to make a comment before we loose a child!!!!!!Put a stop to this one!

I am a school bus driver in California. It is state law here that the school bus driver escort all k-8 across the street. We are out there in the middle of the road with a hand held stop sign (red lights on)and stay there till they have safely crossed the road. We only use monitors for certain special needs children on our buses.

As usual, the useless governor wants to fix the budget problems he created by punishing the average every day worker-this time it's the school bus monitors. It's time for the school bus monitors, those of us such as myself who support them, and all the other citizens who are fed up with this buffoon who isn't worth the room he takes up to stand up and be heard. IMPEACH "THE DON" NOW!!! The sooner we get rid of the bum, the sooner this state can get back on track.

I have to agree with all posts in here....No there were not bus monitors when I went to school (NO IT WASNT ON A HORSE AND BUGGY) BUT, I do think it is an important job, and it dosnt pay much, and to me, if just 1 child is saved from disaster, then THAT PAYS the salary of ALL the bus monitors for the WHOLE year.....wouldnt you feel that way if it was YOUR KID?

I would love to see HOW they will reroute ALL bus stops so kids get picked up and droped off on the same side???

I guess The Governor sees saving money by cutting jobs. Does he know the state can only pay unemployment up untill March? Many Bus monitors are payed by the bus company NOT the school department.

the safty of our kids is inportent and i feel bus monitors are needed VERY MUCH and the money that they make is pennuts and they are out there in all kinds of weather and way because they care about our kids a bus monitors only make's about $3000.00 a year so they don't make very much money so leave it alone it's a good thing and it works take from the top beging with the governor

Jason Ruel wrote:

We are the only state in the United States that "requires" bus monitors. I don't hear about kids getting killed in other states because they don't have bus monitors.

It happends just google the statistics.

Sue wrote:

I am a school bus driver in California. It is state law here that the school bus driver escort all k-8 across the street. We are out there in the middle of the road with a hand held stop sign (red lights on)and stay there till they have safely crossed the road. We only use monitors for certain special needs children on our buses.

You get on and off at each stop?

I am a Bus Monitor. Today YEs we need monitors on & off the bus. People are the road are lead footed and impatient. I can't tell you how many times I have finished crossing a child no sooner am I walking in front of the bus to get back on do cars start to take off. Even though the stop sign and lights are still on! We also help keep order on the bus while it's moving. Or tending to a child that has gotten sick. Superentendants make over $200,000 a year and most never leave their own house.

You all are right we don't make much. But we put our lives in danger to protect children. That should count for something.

Lets see what happens when a big wigs child,love one ,or maybe a grandchild gets hurt or even killed by a bus accident they WILL be singing a different tune the heck with the little people and their children again!Why doesnt a big wig come for a ride on one of our school bus routes I personally invite you I will even buy you coffee to see how important monitors are!You can find me in smithfield and I am sure any other school bus driver will be happy to do the same!Lets not loose a childs life over a budget it could be your child!

Jason Ruel wrote:

We are the only state in the United States that "requires" bus monitors. I don't hear about kids getting killed in other states because they don't have bus monitors.

if one of your loved ones got killed by a school bus how would it make you feel do the job as a driver or monitor and you would see!

Lynnie wrote:

<quoted text>
It happends just google the statistics.

come do the job and you WILL see how important it is ! they keep our kids safe!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to see a rally of bus drivers,monitors, parents and anyone who thinks we need to keep our kids safe at the state house if they think that their right what next rerouting to door to door bus service not even that is safe

You will be making a big mistake

A school bus driver wrote:

I would like to see a rally of bus drivers,monitors, parents and anyone who thinks we need to keep our kids safe at the state house if they think that their right what next rerouting to door to door bus service not even that is safe

I'll be there!!!