School bus driver records show serious offenses

Bus drivers in some of Iowa?s largest school districts face charges or have been convicted in the past decade of offenses including drunken driving, operating a vehicle with a suspended license and careless driving.

The Des Moines Register reported Monday that a review of public records in the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Dubuque districts shows most drivers had clean records or just minor traffic violations. Of the 1,000 records checked, 11 drivers had serious traffic offenses or criminal convictions.

Currently, background checks are not required for bus drivers, but Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to sign a bill that requires them.

Many districts say they already conduct pre-hire background checks for bus drivers, and some also do regular follow-up checks. The state has long required background checks for teachers and other professionally licensed staff members.

Violations found in the records included a Cedar Rapids bus attendant who doesn?t drive, but supervises children. The employee was convicted a second drunken driving charge in 2009 and of disorderly conduct and interference with official acts in 2010.

Records also show the license of a Des Moines bus driver was suspended earlier this year for a non-work-related issue. District officials this week said they were aware of the issue and that the employee was not driving during the suspension The man was hired by the district in 2002, and pleaded guilty in 2010 of driving with a suspended or canceled license.

Des Moines schools spokesman Phil Roeder said policy doesn?t require a background search after hiring, but that employees are required to notify the school of any arrests, charges and convictions. The district contracts with a company to conduct full background searches at a cost of $50,000 a year.

Sioux City?s public schools review the motor vehicle reports of each of its drivers at least once a year, said Superintendent Paul Gausman. It is public information and doesn?t cost the district, he said.

None of Sioux City?s transportation employees had convictions for felonies, misdemeanors or serious traffic offenses in the past 10 years.

Dubuque Human Resources Director Stan Rheingans said his district, like Des Moines, does not do periodic criminal background reviews. The district generally overlooks convictions 10 years or older. However, it?s rare that the district has to settle for someone with a potentially questionable background, he said.

?We have enough applicants that we can be selective,? Rheingans said.

Michelle Tigner, a Des Moines driver who was arrested in January on a disorderly conduct charge, said she?s fine with background checks.

?I don?t have issue with that happening for anybody that works with kids,? she said.

Her case has not been resolved, and she continues to contest the charge. She said she was defending herself from an alleged attacker who she said was a former friend, and called the situation leading to her arrest devastating.

Tigner?s record shows no previous convictions other than traffic violations, such as speeding or a seat belt ticket.

?I?ve been employed with the Des Moines schools for 20 years, and I?ve never been in trouble,? Tigner said. ?This is the first incident I?ve had, and hopefully it will be resolved.?