Font ResizeParents are calling for the South Eastern School District to remove a bus driver who was recently found guilty of swearing on school property.
Five parents attended Thursday night's school board meeting to ask the board to push for the Red Lion Bus Co. to remove John Rineholt from Bus 135, which runs a Stewartstown-area route.
District Justice John Olwert in August ordered Rineholt to pay a $349 fine for using obscene language on the grounds of South Eastern Middle School East on April 29.
Parent Jackie Cotton said the swearing incident is only the latest in a series of complaints about Rineholt that parents have registered with district through the years. She and other parents have attended board meetings since last spring to report similar problems on Rineholt's bus.
"There's a history of incidents with no answers," she said. "Why do you keep this employee?"
Supt. Tracy Shank said the district is not responsible for a bus contractor's employees. "It's an employee issue with Red Lion, not an employee issue with us," she said.
However, the parents presented the board with copies of the district's bus contract that outlines procedures the district can take to seek a driver's removal.
Neither Rineholt nor a representative from Red Lion Bus Co. attended the meeting, but board President Tonia Wright read a statement from the company.
The statement indicated the company has directed Rineholt to change his conduct and said the company is satisfied
WHAT'S NEXT/
School board President Tonia Wright said the board will discuss the issue in executive session because it is a personnel matter. She did not know when the board would be ready to announce what action, if any, it would take, she said.
