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Drivers and union representatives press Bonita Unified on bus safety and staffing
Summary
During public comment, CSEA staff and several bus drivers urged the board to address repeated operational problems in the transportation yard — citing skipped rotations, lack of certified mechanics, use of personal phones for work, driver departures and alleged poor supervision by the department director.
Several current and former transportation employees told the Bonita Unified Board that ongoing issues in the district’s transportation department are affecting safety, staffing and service reliability.
Andy Sundstrom, a CSEA staff representative, told trustees he has not “in my experience ... encountered so many issues with a particular department” and described repeated grievances over assignment rotations and other practices that union members say have persisted despite prior meetings with administration.
Driver Laura Ochoa said she and colleagues are concerned about vehicle safety and staffing. “We don't have, a certified mechanic,” Ochoa said, and described a shortage of mechanics and uncertainty about who is responsible for bus maintenance. She and other drivers urged the board to investigate and to provide more direct operational support.
Several drivers and union members alleged management problems in the transportation office. One driver told trustees the department has a “toxic” director and urged the board to review hiring and supervision. Another commenter said drivers had been left at out‑of‑district events and described a broader reliance on outsourcing that, the union argued, has raised costs. One speaker said district outsourcing costs were approximately $4,600,000 last year and projected at $6,800,000 for the current and following year.
District administrators acknowledged the comments and said they have met with drivers; trustees indicated they would take the concerns under advisement and suggested a future agenda or study session to examine transportation operations.
The board did not act formally on personnel or contract matters during public comment; several trustees requested staff follow up and to place transportation on a future agenda for additional review.
