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Bus Driver Returns To Work Following Drug Violation

Parents Concerned For Children's Safety

POSTED: 3:49 p.m. EDT October 15, 2002
UPDATED: 4:45 p.m. EDT October 15, 2002

Bus driver Gail Urbanec was back on the job today after an arbitrator determined she deserved a second chance after failing a drug test, according to The Macomb Daily.

A random drug test last spring showed traces of marijuana in Urbanec's blood leading to her dismissal, the newspaper said.

Her return has some parents in the school district concerned and upset.

"Bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility in the transportation of 50 to 60 kids," one mother told the paper. "They have to be alert and certainly not on marijuana, which is illegal in the first place."

District officials, including Fraser Superintendent of Schools Richard Repicky, were also disappointed in the ruling according to The Macomb Daily. "We felt we were on solid ground when we fired the driver. But the decision came from a binding arbitration hearing and we don't have any recourse now," said Repicky.

The arbitrator's ruling was based on Urbanec's 17 years of "clean" service prior to the offense. She will need to undergo random drug testing at least six times a year for the next five years.




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