BUS DRIVER WHO USED MARIJUANA RETURNS TO JOB TODAY

Fired last spring when a random drug test showed marijuana use, a bus
driver for Fraser Public Schools was scheduled to return to work today.

Bus driver Gail Urbanec was given back her job by an arbitrator, school
officials said.

The ruling, however, has upset some parents in the school district, which
operates nine schools in Fraser, Clinton Township and Roseville.

"I just couldn't believe my ears when I heard that she will drive a bus for
us again," said William Speelman, the father of two sons, an eighth-grader
at Richard Junior High School and a sixth-grader at Edison Elementary School.

"It's a dangerous situation. Why would an arbitrator send a driver back to
work with a drug violation on her record?"

The Macomb Daily received several complaints Sunday and Monday from parents
critical of the arbitrator's decision.

Steven Burnett, president of Local 3846 of the American Federation of
State, County, Municipal Employees, said Urbanec deserves a second chance.

He said he couldn't elaborate on the situation, but said the arbitrator
took into consideration Urbanec's prior record with the school district.

"She's had an unblemished record for the past 17 years," Burnett said.
"She's never late to work and has been a model employee."

Urbanec could not be reached for comment.

"Bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility in the transportation of 50
to 60 kids," said one mother who asked to remain anonymous. "They have to
be alert and certainly not on marijuana -- which is illegal in the first
place."

Fraser Superintendent of Schools Richard Repicky said the driver was
brought back solely on the arbitrator's ruling. He said the district has a
"no tolerance" policy regarding drugs and did what it thought was
appropriate last spring.

He said district officials were disappointed in the ruling by arbitrator
George Rummell.

"We felt we were on solid ground when we fired the driver. But the decision
came from a binding arbitration hearing and we don't have any recourse
now," Repicky said.

Repicky confirmed that Urbanec had an unblemished record. He said she
previously tested negative for drugs over the past two years.

"Traces of marijuana could stay in a person's blood for at least 30 days,"
Repicky said. "There is no evidence that she was taking marijuana while she
was driving."

Bill Brown, director of field representatives for AFSCME Council 25, could
not be reached for comment. But in a letter to bus drivers, Burnett asked
for their support in welcoming Urbanec back to work.

A condition for Urbanec's return to work includes random drug testing above
the normal (at least six times a year for the next five years) and no back pay.