‘We were targeted’: Fired Richmond bus drivers press for answers at school board meeting

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Multiple organizations gathered at City Hall on Tuesday in support of five terminated Richmond Public Schools (RPS) bus drivers.

“We hope that we can be reinstated today,” said one such bus driver, Kimya Williams, who drove for RPS for 25 years.

The drivers, who call themselves the "RPS 5," were terminated on April 25 after speaking out at a school board meeting on April 8. Their termination letters cited a Virginia state code against striking, with RPS officials saying they were dismissed because they “determined together to call out.”

An RPS email from superintendent Jason Kamras and obtained by 8News reads, in part:

“On April 8, several bus drivers suddenly ‘called out,’ indicating they would not be performing after-school activity runs. This led RPS to cancel most after-school activities, leaving thousands of students without programming.” 

The group has repeatedly questioned why they were the only employees let go, noting that other staff members and bus drivers were also present during the demonstration.

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“We didn’t do anything wrong,” Williams said. “We were unjustly terminated. We were targeted and retaliated against.”

Internal messages between RPS staff, previously obtained by 8News, reveal that a photo taken on April 8 shows the faces of the five drivers.

Despite this, no formal explanation has been given for why they alone were disciplined.

More than a month since their terminations, the RPS 5 said they still haven’t received a clear answer from school officials. That uncertainty, combined with financial strain, is part of what brought them back to speak directly before the school board on Tuesday, June 3.

June 3 demonstration in support of the "RPS 5," five bus drivers terminated by Richmond Public Schools. (Photo: 8News)

June 3 demonstration in support of the "RPS 5," five bus drivers terminated by Richmond Public Schools. (Photo: 8News)

“Over the past six weeks, we have scrambled to figure out how we're gonna feed our children,” WIlliams said during the meeting's public comment period.

Their testimonies, however, were met with silence from board members.

“It’s been six weeks now and we haven’t heard anything,” Williams said.

“We put in our grievance," said RPS 5 member Cynthia Cole, who drove RPS buses for 29 years. "We didn’t hear anything from there.”

Under RPS’ collective bargaining agreement, Kamras is required to meet with any staff members who file a grievance within 15 business days of submission.

The RPS 5 said they formally began their grievance process on April 30. An email obtained by 8News shows that Kamras acknowledged the filing that same day, but has not followed up.

“It’s the lack of communication,” the RPS 5 said. “Lack of communication on administration’s part ... It’s awful. It makes you feel awful, like you’re less than nothing.”

RPS has declined to comment on the matter several times, citing restrictions around ongoing investigations and personnel matters.

With no answers from the administration or the school board, the drivers say they’re exploring their legal options, including the possibility of filing a lawsuit.