Pubdate: Tue, 15 Oct 2002
Source: Macomb Daily, The (MI)
Copyright: 2002 The Macomb Daily
Contact:  http://www.macombdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2253
Author: Gordon Wilczynski

BUS DRIVER WHO USED MARIJUANA RETURNS TO JOB TODAY

Fired last spring when a random drug test showed marijuana use, a bus 
driver for Fraser Public Schools was scheduled to return to work today.

Bus driver Gail Urbanec was given back her job by an arbitrator, school 
officials said.

The ruling, however, has upset some parents in the school district, which 
operates nine schools in Fraser, Clinton Township and Roseville.

"I just couldn't believe my ears when I heard that she will drive a bus for 
us again," said William Speelman, the father of two sons, an eighth-grader 
at Richard Junior High School and a sixth-grader at Edison Elementary School.

"It's a dangerous situation. Why would an arbitrator send a driver back to 
work with a drug violation on her record?"

The Macomb Daily received several complaints Sunday and Monday from parents 
critical of the arbitrator's decision.

Steven Burnett, president of Local 3846 of the American Federation of 
State, County, Municipal Employees, said Urbanec deserves a second chance.

He said he couldn't elaborate on the situation, but said the arbitrator 
took into consideration Urbanec's prior record with the school district.

"She's had an unblemished record for the past 17 years," Burnett said. 
"She's never late to work and has been a model employee."

Urbanec could not be reached for comment.

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

Fraser Superintendent of Schools Richard Repicky said the driver was 
brought back solely on the arbitrator's ruling. He said the district has a 
"no tolerance" policy regarding drugs and did what it thought was 
appropriate last spring.

He said district officials were disappointed in the ruling by arbitrator 
George Rummell.

"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," Repicky said.

Repicky confirmed that Urbanec had an unblemished record. He said she 
previously tested negative for drugs over the past two years.

"Traces of marijuana could stay in a person's blood for at least 30 days," 
Repicky said. "There is no evidence that she was taking marijuana while she 
was driving."

Bill Brown, director of field representatives for AFSCME Council 25, could 
not be reached for comment. But in a letter to bus drivers, Burnett asked 
for their support in welcoming Urbanec back to work.

A condition for Urbanec's return to work includes random drug testing above 
the normal (at least six times a year for the next five years) and no back pay.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens