Jim Spurlin, district transportation director, said he was not previously concerned about Sanders' job performance.
"He is a veteran bus driver, and there had never been a problem before," he said. "His bus did become a little out of hand, but he took the proper steps to calm the situation. He did yell, but he was only trying to appeal to the children above the noise."
Sanders, who appeared at the meeting, said he tried to handle the situation in a way that has worked in the past.
"I did what I thought would work when the kids were rowdy and loud," he said. "I tried to talk to them on the PA system, then pulled over to get them to quiet down, but they were still noisy."
Spurlin said no problems have been reported since bus monitor Ruby Adams was added to the route.
Cameras on buses
Although most of the buses have cameras, the bus in question did not. Spurlin said placement of cameras has to be prioritized.
"When we decide which bus to put a camera on, we have to think about needs," he said. "We figure that it is probably more necessary to put the camera on the high school bus than the one with the elementary. Frankly, I have not had a problem with (Sanders') bus before this year and did not believe it was needed."
Camp Dick Principal Janet Overstreet believes the problems on the bus are due largely to cramped conditions necessitated by fuel prices.
Corcoran said he wanted to have his daughter put on a new bus, but Woolsey said that request was news to him.
"This is the first time I have heard about wanting to take a new bus," he said. "If that is what you want, I will do what I can to accommodate you, but that would mean putting your daughter on a bus with high school students. I would think that is less desirable."
The exchange between Corcoran and Woolsey became more hostile when Corcoran accused Woolsey of being disrespectful in person and in an e-mail that was written in all capital letters.
"Anyone that has received an e-mail from me, before or since, will tell you that is the way I write," said Woolsey. "That is my style, and I am not changing it."
