Dist. 57 fires bus driver, transportation director

The Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 school board fired bus driver Betty Burden along with her boss, Transportation Coordinator Vince Ramirez, who allowed Burden to drive despite getting two reports of alcohol on her breath in two days from concerned co-workers last week.

Ramirez sat in the front row and watched the school board vote 6-1 in favor of his termination Thursday. Only board member Michael Withey voted against the idea, saying he didn't have enough information. The board unanimously voted to fire Burden, who didn't attend the meeting.

The night Burden was charged with drunken driving, Ramirez said he told Superintendent Elaine Aumiller and Business Manager Dale Falk everything. He told them two employees reported smelling alcohol on Burden, but when Ramirez spoke to Burden he couldn't be sure.

"They both said they would support me," Ramirez said. "They said the next few days are going to be tough but that they'd support me. I trusted these people, Elaine Aumiller, Dale Falk. They told me they would support me."

Burden drove eight routes on the day she was arrested and spent a total of 71/2 hours behind the wheel, Ramirez said. On Monday, about 100 angry parents attended a public meeting about the incident and many called for Ramirez's firing.

Ramirez said Aumiller and Falk told him not to attend that meeting. The day after the public meeting, Ramirez was asked to resign and was offered a severance package, he said.

"I said no, it would sound like I was admitting I did something wrong," he said. "I definitely think Monday's meeting changed (the school board) minds."

Burden was arrested on drunken driving charges March 9 after she dropped off 50 students from Lions Elementary. Police said she admitted drinking vodka and orange juice at lunch and failed a field sobriety test. School officials said no alcohol was found on her bus.

A breath test at the police station found she had a blood-alcohol content of .226. According to school officials, two different co-workers told Ramirez they smelled alcohol on Burden - one the day Burden was arrested and one the day before.

Ramirez, 37, was a bus driver for District 57 for three years beginning in 1995 and has been the district's transportation coordinator since 1998. He has known Burden for 15 years and said he never suspected she had a drinking problem.

"It's horrible, what she did, and it's disheartening," he said. "She is a nice person. She had only used one personal day this entire year."

Looking back, Ramirez is not sure what he could have done differently.

"I couldn't accuse someone of that, if I couldn't be sure," said Ramirez. "It's a terrible thing to say to someone."

About 50 teachers and parents attended Thursday's meeting, with a few speaking out in support of Ramirez. After the vote, some stormed out of the meeting, while others went up and hugged Ramirez.

Westbrook teacher Kathy Winters has worked with Ramirez for the past 15 years. "He has devoted his life to these children and their families," Winters said. "I think you should look at this as an unfortunate incident and go from here."

Kathy Cummings, a third-grade teacher at Lions Park Elementary, agreed with Winters.

"You need to look at all the things Vince has done since he's been here, not this one incident," Cummings said.

The board met twice in closed session before voting to fire Ramirez.

"People rightfully feel their trust has been betrayed," said board President Joe Leane. "These decisions are likely to also upset the community but they must be made so we can move forward."

Burden's next court date is April 1. Ramirez said he is considering legal action against the school district.

"I'm going to miss everyone terribly," he said after the meeting. "I enjoyed everyone's support. It's been a really tough week."