Education
Education

DeKalb Schools rehires one bus driver fired in sickout aftermath

Several buses remained in the parking lot during morning pickup times at the DeKalb County School District’s Offices at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone Mountain on Thursday morning April 19, 2018. Nearly 400 drivers staged a sickout protest over pay, retirement benefits and divers’ overall treatment. School Superintendent Steve Green said every driver who missed work would have to show a doctor’s note. Students were not counted as tardy if their buses arrived late, and the district rescheduled Georgia Milestones testing. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM
Several buses remained in the parking lot during morning pickup times at the DeKalb County School District’s Offices at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone Mountain on Thursday morning April 19, 2018. Nearly 400 drivers staged a sickout protest over pay, retirement benefits and divers’ overall treatment. School Superintendent Steve Green said every driver who missed work would have to show a doctor’s note. Students were not counted as tardy if their buses arrived late, and the district rescheduled Georgia Milestones testing. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM
By Marlon A. Walker
May 8, 2018

A DeKalb County School District bus driver returned to work Monday, several weeks after at least seven were fired by Superintendent Steve Green for promoting or encouraging a sickout that crippled transportation operations.

District officials confirmed one of several drivers who received hand-delivered notes signed by Green was again working for the district. No reason was given for the about-face. None of the other drivers was rehired, officials said Tuesday.

VIDEO: Previous coverage on this issue

The bus drivers were fired amid the ‘sick out’ last week.

School district officials said seven drivers were initially terminated for either promoting or encouraging the sickout, with Green calling it an “illegal” organizing effort. Supporters and fired school bus drivers put that number at 10.

The sickout saw nearly 400 of the district's 900 school bus drivers call out of work April 19, the first of three days where drivers stayed home to bring awareness to concerns with pay, benefits and treatment.

About the Author

Marlon A. Walker is an education reporter covering DeKalb County.

Follow Marlon A. Walker on facebookFollow Marlon A. Walker on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

A graduate attends Clark Atlanta University’s 2025 commencement ceremony Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Georgia State’s Convocation Center. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

More Georgia teachers are getting free or cheap master’s degrees. Here’s how.

With teacher turnover rates on the rise, school systems and universities are partnering in a growing effort to recruit and retain Georgia educators.

Georgia school districts prepare for cellphone ban ahead of state deadline

Metro Atlanta schools will be using lockers, pouches and the honor system to keep students from using their phones.

Atlanta school board votes to extend superintendent’s contract

The school board has extended Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson’s contract, touting his “Back to Basics” approach.

The Latest

A graduate attends Clark Atlanta University’s 2025 commencement ceremony Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Georgia State’s Convocation Center. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

More Georgia teachers are getting free or cheap master’s degrees. Here’s how.

Atlanta school board votes to extend superintendent’s contract

Georgia school districts prepare for cellphone ban ahead of state deadline

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Georgia disability rights advocates fear weakening of U.S. accessibility law

Advocates worry the Department of Energy’s move could be the start of a broader effort by other federal agencies to roll back civil rights rules.

From boycott to ballgame: Baseball’s political All-Star Game saga returns to Georgia

MLB pulled the 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia over the state's voting law, Senate Bill 202. Now it’s back — and Republicans say the return proves they were right all along.

OPINION

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour pushes fans outside the norm

Preparations for the show pushed people out of their comfort zones — into new stores, new communities, a new style of dress, and in some cases, to visit new cities.