WREG.com

What’s next for municipalities that contract with Durham?

SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Hours after Durham School Services’ CEO vowed to improve bus safety standards in Shelby County Schools, some parents in other municipalities wanted to know if the changes will affect their districts, too.

Collierville Schools confirmed that Durham wants to schedule a meeting with municipal superintendents early next week.

Durham also confirmed that there will be a meeting, but did not elaborate.

Durham and Shelby County Schools administrators met Thursday and unveiled a three-part-plan to improve safety.

The plan includes re-screening current drivers’ background checks over the next week, increasing the number of random drug tests, and putting together a driver recruitment plan.

This comes after police arrested bus driver 29-year-old Marsai Catron for having pot on a bus.

There have also been more than 40 bus crashes so far this school year.

Shelby County Schools told WREG to contact Durham for updates on the re-screening process, but Durham has not revealed any details.

WREG reached out to several nearby municipal districts but many did not respond Friday.

Parents said it’s too soon to know whether or not the changes will only affect Shelby County Schools drivers.

“I think it’s premature to assume that they’re not going to do that, because they’re already in the spotlight,” Germantown Municipal School District parent Sonia Bryant said.