Dalton School go virtual due to school bus strike

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – Dalton City schools announced on Friday that they are switching to virtual classes on Monday because of a bus strike.

They say their drivers are striking against their company.

The school system emphasizes that they are not part of the negotiations themselves.

Superintendent Tim Scott posted “I want to emphasize that this strike action is directed towards First Student and is not a reflection of any issues within Dalton Public Schools. Unfortunately, as a school district, we do not have any authority in these negotiations.

While we sincerely hope that the strike will be resolved quickly, we are also preparing contingency plans in case the situation continues past Monday. We understand that this sudden shift to virtual learning may pose challenges for some families, and we appreciate your understanding and flexibility during this time.”

Students should long in to Canvas to get more info on their class instructions.

Friday afternoon, First Student issued this information:

First Student has been working to reach a contract agreement with our drivers who serve Dalton Public Schools. Unfortunately, the leadership of ATU 1212 have said they plan to strike on Monday, May 15. We understand that any disruption to student transportation would be a hardship for families and the district, especially with state testing next week.

At First Student, we value our drivers and recognize the critical nature of the work they do. Our Dalton drivers are the highest paid in the area. Since last May, we have increased starting wages from $16 to $18 an hour. All drivers have received pay increases of between 5 to 10%.

We are committed to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement with ATU 1212 as soon as possible. We have offered to continue negotiations with union leadership every day next week. We strongly encourage the union to join us in finding a resolution that ensures the best possible outcome for our drivers, our students and the community.