Director of Rutherford County Schools says there will be no strike, addresses some parent concerns over safety

Yahoo

30-04-2025

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Changes have come to Rutherford County's Parent Responsibility Zone and to the proposed bus strike.
The Rutherford County Board of Education decided to eliminate some bus routes for students who lived near their schools last week in an attempt to fill a $20 million budget hole. The elimination of about 44 bus routes would have saved the district about $3 million.
PREVIOUS: Rutherford County Schools cuts bus routes, considers tax for funding
However, one father disagreed with the decision. Chuck Isbell's son, Nate, was killed almost five years ago by a distracted driver while Nate was out trick-or-treating. The Mayor of La Vergne had also pushed for the school board to rescind the vote.
'Hearing about this and seeing all this, it actually makes me sick to my stomach thinking about kids having to walk or find alternate means to get to school,' concerned resident Chuck Isbell said.
However, on Tuesday, a video from Dr. Jimmy Sullivan — director of schools — said that the PRZ would be tabled for a year. Sullivan said that he wanted to address some 'top of mind' issues.
'Please know that student safety is always my top priority and I am confident that we will find a solution that meets the needs of the district and also our families,' Sullivan said.
Isbell had written a four-page letter to school board members expressing concerns about speeding cars, crime, severe weather, wildlife, and a lack of sidewalks.
'Less than 10% of roads here have sidewalks, and the average speed limit on residential streets is 40 MPH,' Isbell said in his letter. 'These roads are not designed for people to walk on, let alone kids trying to get to school.'
Sullivan's video also addressed a letter from the Rutherford County Bus Contractors Organization that said some drivers would have been 'compelled to cease' driving on Thursday if the district did not negotiate with them for a greater pay increase.
'We heard [Tuesday] from an attorney representing some of the bus contractors group that they are not planning to strike later this week as some had previously announced,' Sullivan said. 'We are hopeful that any strikes will be limited, and we anticipate the majority of our contractors continue operating their routes throughout the school year.'
RELATED: Rutherford County bus drivers 'compelled to cease' driving May 1 if school board doesn't return to negotiating table
Not every bus contractor within the county had planned to strike. The owner of Gossett Bus Lines, which operates about 13 routes in the county, said the strike would have created more conflict.
'This should not expand out into the parents, the schools and the children,' owner of Gossett Bus Line, Cynthia Gossett, said. 'I do not feel that those people should suffer because we are not getting exactly what was asked for.'
Sullivan said that the district intends to keep parents informed throughout the process.
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