Busing contractor to respond on fuel misuse

WESTFALL — Delaware Valley School officials are expecting a written response from the district’s bus contractor, School Board President Bob Goldsack said Wednesday. Krise Bus will respond to repeated charges, by drivers of district-owned buses, that the contractor used tax-free, district provided fuel for non-school charter trips. “Krise will need to show there have been no improprieties,” Goldsack said. Goldsack said the data provided by Krise can only be substantiated by comparison to district fuel records. “If our records are not complete enough to provide us safeguards, then — shame on us,” he said. Goldsack said additional investigation - private detectives - would cost the district more than the fuel loss, which was estimated at some $2,000. He said the Pike County District Attorney declined to investigate because of the small dollar amount in question About a dozen district drivers, represented by DV Education Support Professionals President Fran Rosario, have been calling for a formal third-party investigation of charges made by drivers, some of whom made the trips they questioned. Rosario’s Jan. 15 letter to the board asked if Krise was not disciplined, could district drivers expect the same “leniency if they happen to be accused of future transgressions?” Goldsack said there is no question of leniency. “Stealing is stealing,” he added. Goldsack said that he believes the district drivers pursued the issue in fear that a new bus contract could eliminate their jobs, which he denied. “But I can empathize with their concerns,” he added.