Laster contract, bus driver issues need resolution posted Thursday, July 19th, 2007 @ 8:37 am  E-mail Story |  Print Story  Last week's School Board meeting was a clear example that in some cases education is taking a backseat to politics. Both behind the scenes and in the open two issues have absolutely consumed this board in recent months. Supt. Kerry Laster accurately pointed out both this week -- her future employment and bus drivers. Laster's contract ends at the end of this year unless the board opts to extend it. While technically the time to officially consider that contract has not arrived, the jockeying to fill that position with someone else has long been underway by some board members. Plus, there is an effort by some to force Laster to resign. Though that's not uncommon, this political game has turned somewhat mean-spirited. If it is the intention of the board not to renew Laster's contract, then tell her. If that violates some policy, then do it anyway. Board policy seems to change depending on the whims of board members. And this issue involving bus drivers is ridiculous. Will it ever go away? Make a decision. Then move on. It's interesting to recall that a few weeks before his tragic death that the late Jerry Roberts lamented that the issue over Durham Bus Services and contract bus drivers seemed as if it was going to consume the board forever. So far his prediction has been right on the money. We don't know how the board will resolve any of the questions that have been raised here. But we do know that these issues have been divisive. And we ask that if board employees are to be given a tongue-lashing that it be done in private and not in an open meeting. For the good of the system, Kerry Laster's future and the various components of the bus driver issue should be resolved in the immediate future.