Bus Drivers, Union Strike Ripples Through District

School was open, but hundreds of students, teachers and support staff in the Pulaski County Special School District weren`t there. The support staff union, PASS, is on strike, they say their bus drivers` salaries are being cut unfairly. And parents found themselves having to take a little more time than usual, Monday morning. "I`ve got 6 foster kids and 2 of our own....over an hour. I`ve got to stop at 3 different schools," said John Mullins, a parent. "I think it`s important to support our drivers. You get what you pay for and I don`t think it`s fair to cut their pay at this time," said Debbie Murphy, a parent. By 11:30 AM many of those Moms and Dads went back to the school to pick up their children. "There`s not enough teachers since they`re supporting the bus drivers for a little while. So they put us in separate rooms to catch up with homework and study and stuff," said Mary Gayden, a 6th grader at Fuller Middle School. "I didn`t see a need," her father Craig says, "for her to sit in a cafeteria or something like that when they didn`t have enough teachers to support the classes. Even many teachers have called in sick. The union says the teachers are honoring the strike by not crossing the picket line. All twelve teachers on staff at Scott Elementary called in sick, and only 15 students out of 120 could make it in. "My response to them was you`d have to come get them. So I did have parents who brought kids to school and then took them home because they didn`t have a ride this afternoon," said Scott Principal Karen Sullards. District Superintendent Don Henderson says he`s disappointed in the union and they had no reason to strike. "None of their members were going to lose any money between Friday and today. As a matter of fact, the issue in dispute I agreed to continue to pay that for another 20 days," said Henderson. Henderson says he`s offered to meet with the union Tuesday, but so far there haven`t been any talks. But he says, he`s not authorized to give the district what they want: to continue the contract agreement for the rest of the 2003-2004 school year. That agreement determined that the bus drivers`s salaries would be based on their total route mileage, instead of just the time when students are on the bus. "That`s what tha art of negotiation is about. We have to find someplace to meet. But those employees received an 8% raise," he said. "I`m hoping they will stand up to their word and honor our contract," said striker, Jackie Riley. The district says schools will be open again tomorrow and asks that parents continue to try and bring the children to school.