Comments on: Former Visalia Unified bus drivers allege poor maintenance, retaliation https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/08/07/former-visalia-unified-bus-drivers-allege-poor-maintenance-retaliation/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:55 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Diana Martinez https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/08/07/former-visalia-unified-bus-drivers-allege-poor-maintenance-retaliation/#comment-154922 Diana Martinez Sun, 10 Aug 2025 16:19:10 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=52095#comment-154922 Robert, I totally agree with you! But we are talking about VUSD. They run their dept as fit. They have broken law's when Katie White and Vicky took over. So, this by using the driver's as scapegoat isn't new. HR will use tactics to force you to resign and if choose not to then they threaten to file with the DMV to get your certificate revoked. My understanding is They have 5 days to report an incident. But they make you wait until you're force to resign. No matter how you handle situations on the bus the driver is always in the wrong. I even had a principal try to tell me how to handle the kid's on my bus. My supervisor Vicky was there and stood quiet. If it wasn't for my union rep, things probably would have went her way. But I also reminded the principal that I was in charge as for CHP handbook and Dept of Ed. Just like she was in charged of her school! VUSD is a very hostile place to work! My opinion and my experienced! Robert, I totally agree with you! But we are talking about VUSD. They run their dept as fit. They have broken law’s when Katie White and Vicky took over. So, this by using the driver’s as scapegoat isn’t new.
HR will use tactics to force you to resign and if choose not to then they threaten to file with the DMV to get your certificate revoked. My understanding is They have 5 days to report an incident. But they make you wait until you’re force to resign.
No matter how you handle situations on the bus the driver is always in the wrong.
I even had a principal try to tell me how to handle the kid’s on my bus. My supervisor Vicky was there and stood quiet. If it wasn’t for my union rep, things probably would have went her way. But I also reminded the principal that I was in charge as for CHP handbook and Dept of Ed.
Just like she was in charged of her school!
VUSD is a very hostile place to work! My opinion and my experienced!

]]> By: Robert https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/08/07/former-visalia-unified-bus-drivers-allege-poor-maintenance-retaliation/#comment-154888 Robert Sun, 10 Aug 2025 01:13:09 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=52095#comment-154888 All School Bus Drivers, have the authority to act in the absence of the School Superintendent, in any EMERGENCY! All School Bus Drivers, have the authority to act in the absence of the School Superintendent, in any EMERGENCY!

]]> By: Robert https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/08/07/former-visalia-unified-bus-drivers-allege-poor-maintenance-retaliation/#comment-154872 Robert Sat, 09 Aug 2025 20:58:19 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=52095#comment-154872 Ty Diana for your input! Btw, to make matters worse, the Student who put all the other Students lives at risk on this day, was not disciplined because he was College Bound! A disaster was avoided because of the Drivers immediate actions! As a former Police Officer, a crime was committed by the Student who incapacitated the Bus. While two Drivers were made Scape Goats for standing their ground, in the best interest of sixty plus kids! Ty Diana for your input!

Btw, to make matters worse, the Student who put all the other Students lives at risk on this day, was not disciplined because he was College Bound!

A disaster was avoided because of the Drivers immediate actions!

As a former Police Officer, a crime was committed by the Student who incapacitated the Bus.

While two Drivers were made Scape Goats for standing their ground, in the best interest of sixty plus kids!

]]> By: Diana Martinez https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/08/07/former-visalia-unified-bus-drivers-allege-poor-maintenance-retaliation/#comment-154826 Diana Martinez Sat, 09 Aug 2025 05:18:35 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=52095#comment-154826 This has been going on since I was employed in 1995. If you complained about hostel work environment VUSD retaliated again that driver. When Katie White became District Manager of Transportation she went after senior drives and forced them to resign. Im talking about driver's there for more than 10-15 years. HR knew about this but still covered her back. But let's talk about Katie White having alcohol delivered on school grounds. Then giving it to her supervisor in the office and staff. She got suspended but never had the police called on her to get arrested. Katie did this numerous times and still nothing. Finally they had her resign. She still got her pay after resignation. So, Vicky, Becky never got into trouble knowing what she was doing. Now let's talk about emotional health issues. THAT PLACE WAS SO TOXIC!! VUSD, had a psychological go interview employees about this. But again Katie White was able to keep her job! Now the safety of the kids on the bus. Bus drivers were threaten by students but never go removed from the bus permanently. VUDS only cared about loosing that money for not transporting students. Driver's have been assaulted but we're said to keep quite. As for me, I called the VPD and filled a report about a sibling at Houston Elementary School. She threatened me and would walk by my bus. I had to force the district into filling a restraining order. So for those two past employees, Bravo for standing up! This has been going on since I was employed in 1995.
If you complained about hostel work environment VUSD retaliated again that driver.
When Katie White became District Manager of Transportation she went after senior drives and forced them to resign. Im talking about driver’s there for more than 10-15 years.
HR knew about this but still covered her back.
But let’s talk about Katie White having alcohol delivered on school grounds. Then giving it to her supervisor in the office and staff. She got suspended but never had the police called on her to get arrested. Katie did this numerous times and still nothing. Finally they had her resign. She still got her pay after resignation. So, Vicky, Becky never got into trouble knowing what she was doing.
Now let’s talk about emotional health issues. THAT PLACE WAS SO TOXIC!! VUSD, had a psychological go interview employees about this. But again Katie White was able to keep her job!
Now the safety of the kids on the bus. Bus drivers were threaten by students but never go removed from the bus permanently. VUDS only cared about loosing that money for not transporting students. Driver’s have been assaulted but we’re said to keep quite.
As for me, I called the VPD and filled a report about a sibling at Houston Elementary School. She threatened me and would walk by my bus. I had to force the district into filling a restraining order.
So for those two past employees, Bravo for standing up!

]]>