Retail fraud is the legal term for shoplifting (or price-switching or trying to get a fraudulent refund),

Whatever she allegedly tried to pilfer is bad enough, but please let it not be a can or beer or bottle of booze . . . good grief, please.

I am just glad there were no kids on the bus that would witness their driver get taken away in handcuffs

I was thoroughly disgusted and appalled when I had read this article. This is a grossly and overly exaggerated account of what had transpired.I hope that whomever it was that thrives on these type of totally unfactual events and the desire to maliciously report them will be required to be held accountable for the damage that this will cause that individual.

"under the advisement of former Superintendent Fred Clarke, "

Wonder why this was considered a relevant part of the story?

It was the school board that directed the superintendent and his administrative team to explore the options. It was the third time the board had directed such an exploration; they also happened under Schultz and Pruneau.

And in the end, it was the school board that reviewed the options and made the decisions.

Are we now hoping to cleanse the board... and make Clarke the lone man on the grassy knoll?

Are these drivers new to the district or former school employees working for Durham?

This is what happens when you outsource a service that is so critical to our cities reputation. People who work for private focus on themselves and the job and do not have empathy or a sense of pride for servicing such a well respected community. That is why you never outsource your critical services such as School Transporation, Fire/EMS services, etc. Now Rochester schools is getting what they pay for. Save that dime and watch the reputation dwindle in time. :(

Lets not just "throw Fred Clarke under the bus" here (sorry - pun intended) - he is not alone in recommending privatization in general, and Durham in particular. The Board was in on this action and actively participated in the vetting of the contractors. Accountability needs to extend to all, not just the fall-guy Mr. Clarke.

What store did this take place?

The choice to steal from The Village was a personal one made by that driver, whether they arrived there in their personal vehicle or the company vehicle (the bus), the choice was ignorant and they will be punished. How this reflects back on the board for making a decision to keep the district from going bankrupt is beyond me.

Rochester School Board Expiration Dates:

Jennifer Berwick, President - Term Expires: December 2016
Beth Talbert, Vice President - Term Expires: December 2018
Chuck Coutteau, Secretary - Term Expires: December 2014
Lisa Nowak, Treasurer - Term Expires: December 2014
Gerald Moore, Trustee - Term Expires: December 2016
Jane Pierobon, Trustee - Term Expires: December 2018
Pat Piskulich, Trustee - Term Expires: December 2018

School board meeting tonight at 7 pm!

I am appalled that Durham hired such a criminal. Sorry, but crime is crime and this lady had a lot of nerve to steal on her way to pick up kids!! With her bus in tow! UGHH!!!!!!

For those going to the BOE meetings, it is always a good idea to read the Board Packet beforehand to find out when you will have a time to speak about an issue. Durham happens to be on the agenda tonight.

See http://media.rochester.k12.mi.us/download/149720?token=OCaRojCyVwc%3d
for the agenda and related material.

The bus driver, who has been arraigned on charges of first-degree retail fraud, had a prior arrest. http://patch.com/A-yb0d
We are still awaiting a response from Durham School Services.

Reno gets his dream: Outsourcing. Now complains about board malfeasance. How about the legislature reducing per pupil funding? That is why Durham was hired. Thank your bigoted buddy Tom McMillin

Not that I am at the Mall that often (; but I always find it odd when school buses parked in the back lot of Parisian?

Say what you want, this WOULD NOT have happened had administrative greed over taken Rochester Community Schools resulting in privatizing custodial and transportation. It's only a matter of time before harm comes to a student. It has happened in nearby districts, it's only a matter of time before it happens to a student at RCS!! And please don't say they had to privatize to prevent bankruptcy after that huge severance package they gave to the former superintendant!!

Mike Reno’a comment
" This driver's past misdemeanor happened just 4 months ago, and I wonder if the district would've caught it. Even if they do annual background checks (which I believe the union found objectionable), I wonder whether a misdemeanor would've been detected."
Are totally false. The Background checks for School employees are governed by law. If in fact a school employee is charged with a crime they MUST report it to the superintendents office within 24 hrs or be subject to termination. So please Mike don't try to undermine the "Union"as our members follow the law and I know for a fact have reported to the district whenever arrested or charged with any crime, no matter how small. Bottom line private contractors don't fall under the same laws as school employees, school employees are held to a much higher standard.

OMG Mike Reno,
The article you cite did not even happen in Michigan it happened in AZ.
Michigan has laws Mike that School Employees HAVE to follow. You are so anti Union it is unreal.

Portion of PA 129 -131 and 138 2005
This Governs School District Employees in Michigan

· If the employee does not report the charge or conviction, he or she is guilty of an additional crime. If the non-reported charge or conviction is a felony or listed offense, the person is guilty of a felony. If the non-reported charge is a non-listed offense misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor.

· If the employee does not report the charge or conviction, the district may discharge the person from employment or termination of his or her contract, following notice and the opportunity of a hearing.

Mike please know your facts before you post, would be more then happy to debate.

But Mike the issue you cited was that an employee with a prior convection could have happened in RCS. whereas I'm stating that there are safe guards in Michigan law for public school employers in crime reporting. You state that she was charged 4 months ago. If in fact she would have been an RCS employee she would have had to tell the judge that she was a school employee under the law. Further more she would have had to report it to the superintendents office. Failure to comply with either of the above would result in criminal charges for failure to report punishable by jail time.
Private contractors only have to do pre employment checks.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/macomb_county/12-year-old-mt.-clemens-girl-gives-birth-to-a-baby-and-the-alleged-father-is-a-28-year-old-man

Tom McMillin's Charter School. Janitor impregnated student. Where were the controls?

Mike ,
I see the contract but private contractors aren't charged with additional crimes for not reporting a crime. Therefore not subject to the strict rule of law that school employees are.

First, i would like to say is that i am a past School bus driver, have been since 1986 til 2004 I also know ALOT of drivers ! And i do know Roseanne Stacho ! Also Durham School Services is a good company, Children ALWAYS come first! I have read comments as ...... safety of children, well as with Durham they hired most drivers back that have already either worked for or another district and its NOT like they just take whoever off the street looking for a job and throw them in a bus to drive children around! Their is ALOT of training to go through to be or become a school bus driver, even after you been driving for years you still have training, classes, dot physical, random drug and alcohol tests! Durham also, does a record check, but to this if a driver does NOT tell their employer, and they run a record check once a year! So, to that its not right to throw blame on Durham School services! They are doing a great job, the ones to be angry at are the school boards from the districts that decide too sell out us bus drivers, custodians, kitchen staff and grounds! that cant seem to manage the money (except in their own pockets) Bottom line is, the best company out there that you would want in your school district is Durham School Services! As, to the School Bus driver....... Roseanne Stacho she is a very caring person and she is a good bus driver, but what she is being accused of was wrong on her part, and even MORE wrong and unfair to others she did this while on the job!!!!