RSU reexamining drug policy
By David Harry
Staff Writer
The superintendent of Regional School Unit 23 told parents Monday that school officials are examining drug and alcohol use policies following the resignation of a school bus driver charged with operating under the influence.
RSU 23 Superintendent Michael Lafortune confirmed that Jan Mooney, 54, submitted her resignation to him Friday after a meeting late last week. Mooney is charged with operating under the influence and endangering the welfare of a child after she was removed from a school bus on Dec. 8.
According to Saco police officers, Mooney’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit when she was tested at the police station.
Lafortune said an ongoing review of transportation procedures has led to two immediate changes for bus drivers in the RSU comprised of Dayton, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.
Beginning Monday, school bus drivers may no longer take buses home and must check in with a transportation supervisor before beginning their routes, said RSU 23 School Board member Gary Curtis.
Lafortune said the policy change involves perhaps three drivers who either took buses to their homes in Dayton or to a remote location in Old Orchard Beach.
While it is not uncommon for rural districts to allow drivers to take buses home, Lafortune called the change “a good step forward for safety.”
Curtis said having supervisors and drivers meet before buses leave can allow supervisors to “err on the side of caution if needed.”
A more comprehensive review of transportation policies is also occurring, Curtis said.
“The administration and the board of RSU 23 are concerned primarily with the safety of the students entrusted to our care,” Curtis said.
Because RSU 23 is comprised of what had been separate Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Dayton districts, Curtis said he anticipates taking the best of each district’s prior policies when developing new transportation procedures for RSU 23.
Right now, random drug and alcohol tests can be made on “reasonable doubt or suspicion,” Lafortune said.
Curtis said parents seemed surprised by Mooney’s arrest.
“This is the first safety incident I can recall in 20 years,” Curtis said.
Lafortune said he wants parents to be aware this was an isolated incident RSU officials are taking very seriously.
“We have a solid group of drivers who put safety first,” he said.
Mooney was placed on administrative leave following the incident, according to RSU 23 Assistant Director of Transportation Jay Kelley.
Lafortune said Mooney was given two week’s severance pay dating from Dec. 8, with the pay she received during her paid administrative leave subtracted from the severance pay.
Her resignation does not need approval from the RSU 23 School Board because she is not covered by the same state laws governing resignations of teachers and administrators, Lafortune said.
Paul said Officer Michael Carrier, who serves as the school resource officer, removed Mooney from a bus filled with students because employees reported smelling alcohol on Mooney’s breath.
Saco Police officers Ray Demers and Megan Brownwell then took Mooney to the police station, where they reported her blood alcohol content was .17, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
Her blood alcohol content was more than four times above the .04 limit cited in the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, according to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.
Mooney was charged with operating under the influence and endangering the welfare of a child, according to police.
After getting driven back to the RSU transportation facility on North Street near the Maine Turnpike, Paul said Mooney was told by Brownwell not to drive any more that day.
Paul said witnesses said Mooney waited for officers to leave and drove herself home. Mooney was arrested and charged with a second count of operating under the influence on Dec. 9.
Mooney faces a Feb. 10, 2010, court date in Biddeford District Court.
According to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, Mooney potentially faces a three-month license suspension if convicted.
If it is determined Mooney, who had driven the bus from the depot to the middle school, was operating under the influence, Maine her license to drive a school bus could be permanently revoked by the state.
Maine law also calls for a three-year suspension of a commercial driving license held by school bus drivers for the first conviction of operating under the influence. Anyone receiving a three-year suspension can petition the Secretary of State to restore a commercial license after one year.
Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219
Staff Writer
The superintendent of Regional School Unit 23 told parents Monday that school officials are examining drug and alcohol use policies following the resignation of a school bus driver charged with operating under the influence.
RSU 23 Superintendent Michael Lafortune confirmed that Jan Mooney, 54, submitted her resignation to him Friday after a meeting late last week. Mooney is charged with operating under the influence and endangering the welfare of a child after she was removed from a school bus on Dec. 8.
According to Saco police officers, Mooney’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit when she was tested at the police station.
Lafortune said an ongoing review of transportation procedures has led to two immediate changes for bus drivers in the RSU comprised of Dayton, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.
Beginning Monday, school bus drivers may no longer take buses home and must check in with a transportation supervisor before beginning their routes, said RSU 23 School Board member Gary Curtis.
Lafortune said the policy change involves perhaps three drivers who either took buses to their homes in Dayton or to a remote location in Old Orchard Beach.
While it is not uncommon for rural districts to allow drivers to take buses home, Lafortune called the change “a good step forward for safety.”
Curtis said having supervisors and drivers meet before buses leave can allow supervisors to “err on the side of caution if needed.”
A more comprehensive review of transportation policies is also occurring, Curtis said.
“The administration and the board of RSU 23 are concerned primarily with the safety of the students entrusted to our care,” Curtis said.
Because RSU 23 is comprised of what had been separate Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Dayton districts, Curtis said he anticipates taking the best of each district’s prior policies when developing new transportation procedures for RSU 23.
Right now, random drug and alcohol tests can be made on “reasonable doubt or suspicion,” Lafortune said.
Curtis said parents seemed surprised by Mooney’s arrest.
“This is the first safety incident I can recall in 20 years,” Curtis said.
Lafortune said he wants parents to be aware this was an isolated incident RSU officials are taking very seriously.
“We have a solid group of drivers who put safety first,” he said.
Mooney was placed on administrative leave following the incident, according to RSU 23 Assistant Director of Transportation Jay Kelley.
Lafortune said Mooney was given two week’s severance pay dating from Dec. 8, with the pay she received during her paid administrative leave subtracted from the severance pay.
Her resignation does not need approval from the RSU 23 School Board because she is not covered by the same state laws governing resignations of teachers and administrators, Lafortune said.
Paul said Officer Michael Carrier, who serves as the school resource officer, removed Mooney from a bus filled with students because employees reported smelling alcohol on Mooney’s breath.
Saco Police officers Ray Demers and Megan Brownwell then took Mooney to the police station, where they reported her blood alcohol content was .17, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
Her blood alcohol content was more than four times above the .04 limit cited in the federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, according to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.
Mooney was charged with operating under the influence and endangering the welfare of a child, according to police.
After getting driven back to the RSU transportation facility on North Street near the Maine Turnpike, Paul said Mooney was told by Brownwell not to drive any more that day.
Paul said witnesses said Mooney waited for officers to leave and drove herself home. Mooney was arrested and charged with a second count of operating under the influence on Dec. 9.
Mooney faces a Feb. 10, 2010, court date in Biddeford District Court.
According to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, Mooney potentially faces a three-month license suspension if convicted.
If it is determined Mooney, who had driven the bus from the depot to the middle school, was operating under the influence, Maine her license to drive a school bus could be permanently revoked by the state.
Maine law also calls for a three-year suspension of a commercial driving license held by school bus drivers for the first conviction of operating under the influence. Anyone receiving a three-year suspension can petition the Secretary of State to restore a commercial license after one year.
Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219
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