Third offense may cost bus driver his job

A worker who dropped off two students far from home in September had been warned and suspended in the past.

By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 16, 2002

LARGO -- The first time he broke the rules, when he stopped at a candy store, relief school bus driver Ernie Croley received a warning. The next time, when he allowed a student to walk 11 blocks home from the wrong stop, Croley was suspended for three days.

Now, after Croley's third reported rules violation, Pinellas County schools superintendent Howard Hinesley says he needs to be fired.

An investigation found Croley, 71, dropped two elementary school students 2 miles from their home last month, even though the students repeatedly told him it was not their bus stop.

Bobby Woods, 11, and Jacquelyn Woods, 10, said Croley insisted they get off at another stop and left them in a strange neighborhood. They had to knock on doors for help, getting home only after a middle-aged man they did not know drove them.

Croley, who could not be reached for comments, was suspended shortly after the students' mother called the district to complain.

Hinesley has recommended that the School Board fire him at its Oct. 22 meeting. Should Croley request an administrative hearing, Hinesley will recommend the board suspend him without pay until the outcome of the hearing is decided.

"Any time our drivers let students off at the wrong stop, that's a serious offense," said district spokesman Ron Stone. "Whether that would be raised to the level of dismissal, that depends on the driver. Every case has to be weighed on its own merit."

The September incident was the third time Croley had been disciplined since he as hired in 1997, according to records in his administrative file.

Croley was reprimanded in 1999 for stopping at a convenience store and letting high school students out to purchase candy.

In April the district suspended him for three days after he left a fifth-grade student off at the wrong stop.

The student had been fighting with a kindergarten student, and Croley told him to stop or get off. The older student got off at the next stop and walked 11 blocks home. A report said Croley failed to notify dispatch officers or the school of his actions.

Now he faces termination for his third offense.

"The board has an actual procedure in place that references progressive discipline to try and remediate behavior," Stone said. "In this particular situation, (Croley) went through a reprimand stage and a suspension stage. This was the next logical step."

-- Michael Sandler can be reached at 445-4174 or sandler@sptimes.com.

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