MOUNT JULIET, TN (WSMV) -
Wilson County Schools Director of Transportation Tiffany Lowery was fired on Tuesday, according to the school district.
District officials listed nearly a dozen reasons for Lowery's termination, with incompetence topping the list.
"Multiple reasons factored into the decision to terminate Ms. Lowery, but the bottom line is the decision was made in the best interest of the students and operations of Wilson County Schools," Director of Schools Donna Wright said in a statement.
Lowery had been on the job for less than a year. It was her first director of transportation position.
A letter in Lowery’s personnel file said she failed to notify parents when bus routes changed daily.
Lowery is also accused of creating a hostile work environment. She allegedly bad-mouthed bus drivers and stopped them from talking to upper-level administrators.
“We take the safety of their children first and foremost. That’s paramount,” said Amelia Hipps, a spokesperson for Wilson County Schools. “We have made the change in regards to personnel because we want children to feel safe and be safe.”
Hipps said the culture prompted several bus drivers to quit. The last straw came when several veteran bus drivers handed in their retirement papers and said they couldn’t take it anymore.
Shane Cook, operational director of transportation, is serving as interim director until a permanent replacement can be appointed.
“We want the transportation department to settle down, to run smoothly and for parents to have confidence,” Hipps said. “He or she is going to arrive safely at school and in the afternoon.”
School district officials said they are experiencing a shortage of bus drivers since other drivers have left under other circumstances. They need 15 more bus drivers. It has gotten so bad, an assistant principal is currently driving a school bus.
“The routes are covered, it just means sometimes they have to run doubles,” Hipps said. “We do need bus drivers. There is a need for bus drivers.”
Read more: http://www.wsmv.com/story/29989583/director-of-transportation-for-wilson-county-schools-fired#ixzz3lKQscymD
Wilson County Schools Director of Transportation Tiffany Lowery was fired on Tuesday, according to the school district.
District officials listed nearly a dozen reasons for Lowery's termination, with incompetence topping the list.
"Multiple reasons factored into the decision to terminate Ms. Lowery, but the bottom line is the decision was made in the best interest of the students and operations of Wilson County Schools," Director of Schools Donna Wright said in a statement.
Lowery had been on the job for less than a year. It was her first director of transportation position.
A letter in Lowery’s personnel file said she failed to notify parents when bus routes changed daily.
Lowery is also accused of creating a hostile work environment. She allegedly bad-mouthed bus drivers and stopped them from talking to upper-level administrators.
“We take the safety of their children first and foremost. That’s paramount,” said Amelia Hipps, a spokesperson for Wilson County Schools. “We have made the change in regards to personnel because we want children to feel safe and be safe.”
Hipps said the culture prompted several bus drivers to quit. The last straw came when several veteran bus drivers handed in their retirement papers and said they couldn’t take it anymore.
Shane Cook, operational director of transportation, is serving as interim director until a permanent replacement can be appointed.
“We want the transportation department to settle down, to run smoothly and for parents to have confidence,” Hipps said. “He or she is going to arrive safely at school and in the afternoon.”
School district officials said they are experiencing a shortage of bus drivers since other drivers have left under other circumstances. They need 15 more bus drivers. It has gotten so bad, an assistant principal is currently driving a school bus.
“The routes are covered, it just means sometimes they have to run doubles,” Hipps said. “We do need bus drivers. There is a need for bus drivers.”
Read more: http://www.wsmv.com/story/29989583/director-of-transportation-for-wilson-county-schools-fired#ixzz3lKQscymD
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