Bus driver urges tougher penalties for on-bus misconduct; union seeks larger pay increases

During the public input portion of the Lake County School Board meeting on May 11, a bus driver and an education-union representative urged the district to act on discipline and pay.

Dan Lackey, a Lake County school bus driver, described repeated referrals for students he transports and said the current penalties do not deter misconduct on buses. "I can't seem to get any budge on the referral problem we have with as a bus driver," he said, describing cases in which students accumulated multiple referrals but faced minimal removal from bus duties.

Earlier in public input, a representative of the Lake County Education Association thanked the board for engagement on the student progression plan committee and urged continued collaboration. The LCEA speaker also referenced an upcoming Florida legislative special session and said the association was hopeful for movement on the education budget; the speaker said educators deserved more than a $400 annual salary increase for the 2026-27 school year.

Board members did not take action on either item during the meeting; the remarks were recorded during the public comment period. No formal district response or immediate policy change was recorded in the transcript.