District employees gathering signatures from local parents and residents opposed to outsourcing student transportation services; demand a full public hearing prior to any vote to contract-out.

PRESTON-In an effort to ensure consideration of community opposition to contracting-out Preston Public Schools' bus services, the district's drivers have launched a petition drive demanding a public hearing on the matter. Members of the CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 chapter representing employees of the Board of Education are concerned that school officials are pursuing proposals to outsource school bus services in defiance of local residents' objections and apparent violation of their collective bargaining agreement.

"This is about the kids, who we think of like our own family," veteran Preston school bus driver Sherry Guertin said Thursday when she and her co-workers began collecting petition signatures. "The town voted to support us because they know that this is more than just a job to us. I just hope the school board hears their voices before they vote," said Guertin, a member of the negotiating committee for the CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 chapter representing school bus drivers employed by the Board of Education.

Guertin's comments refer to a special town meeting that Preston's Board of Selectman held in April where more than 75 residents voted unanimously to oppose outsourcing the community's school bus services. The non-binding resolution was ignored by the Board of Education, which drove ahead with the contracting-out process when they voted at a June 14 meeting in favor of an internal feasibility study on the proposal.

"We just want the school board to listen to the people of Preston," said Amy Sabrowski, who also works as a school bus driver for the district. "They made clear that they want to keep their school bus services local," Sabrowski, a member of the Union's local chapter, said.

Union members intend to deliver signed petitions urging a public hearing before any vote is held to contract-out Preston's school bus services in advance of the next board meeting, scheduled for July 19. The drivers also plan to pursue a grievance filed last month over school officials' failure to provide details of the proposed costs of the outsourcing scheme. At issue is language in their contract with the Board of Education, which expired July 1, requiring all pertinent information used to base any decision to contract-out transportation services be made available to their Union.

CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 represents 25,000 active and retired public sector workers serving in state and municipal agencies, as well as local school districts across Connecticut. Visit www.seiu2001.org online for more information about how its members are working to preserve quality public education services for our children, our families, and our communities.

"I Support Local School Bus Services in Preston" Petition Form:

http://bit.ly/bhQ5Dg

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