Complaints about the new transportation location subsided after
district officials visited site
Gilroy – When Rebecca Scheel raised her hand during a recent candidate’s forum and spoke of Port-A-Potties and lack of hot water, Tom Bundros expressed his deep concern.
The boardmember told Scheel, one of 30 bus drivers working for the Gilroy Unified School District, he’d had no idea there were problems with the new site and that he’d head out there ASAP to check it out firsthand.
GUSD Boardmember Rhoda Bress and Superintendent Edwin Diaz also showed up at the Chestnut Street locale.
And what they all found was a seriously surprised Darren Salo. The GUSD transportation supervisor said no employees approached him with a complaint about the bus yard.
” ‘Cause usually when there’s an issue we try to take care of it (immediately),” he said.
Yes, it’s true that four gray Port-A-Potties all in a row – two for women and two for men – are set up in the parking lot. But those bathrooms were placed there for the bus drivers’ convenience since the time between their shifts is tight and it’s a short walk to the facilities inside the office, Salo said.
And, he pointed out, the toilets flush and they have running water.
Since beginning his job with the transportation department, Salo has pushed for a move from the former site, off of Leavesley Avenue, near El Portal charter school. Salo said the old building and plumbing necessitated either a move or remodeling.
For example, there were only two bathrooms and if you flushed one, water wouldn’t flow from the faucet. District officials deemed it unsafe and outdated and the department moved to its new locale in August.
At the new site, drivers may use the portable bathrooms out in the lot or head to the office and use one of four bathrooms. Only two bathrooms were available in the former facility.
A group of bus drivers relaxing for their afternoon shift in the lounge said they didn’t have an issue with the Port-A-Potties. The majority said they don’t even use them but appreciate that they’re there just in case.
“And I’m an old farmer’s wife so compared to what we used back in the day, that’s gold,” Rosalie Benassi said in reference to the portable toilets.
But the group did say the lounge at the new site is too small. In response to the concerns, an extra break room is now available upstairs.
Benassi, who has driven a bus for the district for the past 13 years, said she remembers back in the day when drivers had to maneuver around huge oak trees at the old site. The trees have since been removed but the district employee said the new bus lot is way roomier and its easier to fit through the entrances.
“What I believe is different is a lot of us don’t accept changes readily,” she said. “The only difference is our lounge is smaller.”
