Union denied access to bus outsourcing documents

Preston - Superintendent of Schools John Welch denied a grievance Friday from the bus drivers' union, requesting all information about the outsourcing of the school bus contract.

The union filed the grievance on June 24 seeking the information, as the school district studies whether to outsource its school buses.

The union is also asking the school district to push back the deadline to respond to the feasibility study.

"We're disappointed that the superintendent didn't schedule a meeting" to discuss the grievance, said Matt O'Connor, representative for the Preston Bus Drivers Chapter of the CSEA/SEIU Local 2001. "Or, he could have complied by sending the information we indicated was missing."

Since Welch denied the grievance, the union then sent a letter to the school board Friday requesting a meeting to resolve the grievance. The union expects to get response from the board by Monday.

- Julianne Hanckel