13-year-old seeks help from police after being kicked off school bus

[Sister Iroz]

SAGINAW - A 13-year-old boy found himself walking three miles in unfamiliar territory after he was forced off a school bus in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw District.

The boy spent the night with a friend and on Monday tried to board a school bus that he normally does not ride.

"The bus driver called the dispatcher," said Kristen Escovdeo, a spokeswoman with the district. "The dispatcher instructed the driver not to let the student ride the bus, and he was left at the bus stop."

Unsure of what to do next, the boy walked three miles and arrived at the Saginaw Police Department, which is about the mid-point between the bus stop and the Prairie Vista middle school.

"This is completely unacceptable," Escovdeo said.

Police then drove the boy to school.

The district, which contracts with Petermann for bus service, said unauthorized riders are supposed to make prior arrangements. However, Escovdeo said it wasn't protocol for a student to be kicked off a bus.

"What we have directed Petermann prior to this ... is any student who is attempting to ride the wrong bus should be transported to their destination," she said.

Petermann, which suspended the dispatcher and not the driver, said it was investigating the incident.

"The dispatcher gave improper instructions to the driver," a company spokesman said. "Our practice is to transport children to school [and] then deal with possible procedural violations."

The boy's mother filed a police report, but no charges have been filed.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.ad0540e.html

[MadmamainNC]

I understand proper protocol and I'm glad the Dispatcher was reprimanded -but still. The bus driver is equally as stupid. Don't they know the rules themselves before they take over the wheel?

[DirtyLopez]

That driver was just a fuckwad! I grew up in the Eagle Mountain District. I was educated at Elkins then Bryson onto Wayside MS and Boswell HS. The area has expanded so much that 4 diff schools have been built since I've up and ping-ponged around the Metroplex. Some of my nieces and nephews go to those schools. Fuck not taking action. That's a kid. I know I was on the streets at that age - playing hooky and doing other illegal things, but it appears this particular child WANTED to get to school and probably was FRIGHTENED of punishment and because he was unaware of where he was. Eagle Mountain ISD spreads out far and wide, this kid could have been dropped off anywhere backwoodsy.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN. That bus driver is incompetent for damn sure. No sense whatsoever.

[DirtyLopez]

I have never even heard of Prairie Vista! I feel like driving over and getting names, for the "what if?" factor, alone. Saginaw needs a new driver. Unacceptable.

[w8ng4msrgt]

To me this is total BS and unfair to both the driver and dispatcher. I worked in management for a transportation department for a local school district in the metroplex.

If you weren't assigned to a bus you were not allowed to board that bus. Where were the parents to make sure that their child or the child that they were entrusted to? In my experience it has been the parents drooping the kids off at the bus stop and expecting the school district to take care of them.

Here is the first paragraph or two of their bus rider handbook. Each child's parent is suppose to read and sign a copy that they have received it.

Bus Rider Handbook

School buses are operated by Petermann Southwest and their office number is 817-439-8282. Surveillance cameras are used on selected Petermann buses to ensure student and driver safety.

The Bus Driver has the same authority over the child as a classroom teacher.

The bus driver is charged with the responsibility of maintaining discipline. He shall report violations to the school principal. Parents should encourage their children to behave and sit down at all times while riding the bus.

General Bus Rules

1. Obey the instructions of the bus driver. At no time will a student act toward, or address comments to the bus driver in a disrespectful manner, or refuse to cooperate with the driver.
2. Board and leave the bus at designated stops only.
3. Only students who are eligible to ride may be transported. Students must ride their assigned bus.
4. Do not ask to ride home on another bus with a friend without a note from home.
5. It is the responsibility of the parents to provide transportation to school if a child misses the bus.
6. If you do not ride for three days, you must call the transportation office (817-439-8282) or the bus may not come by again until contacted.

The rest if you are interested.

I think most of this should be thrown back at the parents. I could go on and on but really don't feel like typing that much.

[Sister Iroz]

To me this is total BS and unfair to both the driver and dispatcher. I worked in management for a transportation department for a local school district in the metroplex.

If you weren't assigned to a bus you were not allowed to board that bus. Where were the parents to make sure that their child or the child that they were entrusted to? In my experience it has been the parents drooping the kids off at the bus stop and expecting the school district to take care of them.

Here is the first paragraph or two of their bus rider handbook. Each child's parent is suppose to read and sign a copy that they have received it.

Bus Rider Handbook

School buses are operated by Petermann Southwest and their office number is 817-439-8282. Surveillance cameras are used on selected Petermann buses to ensure student and driver safety.

The Bus Driver has the same authority over the child as a classroom teacher.

The bus driver is charged with the responsibility of maintaining discipline. He shall report violations to the school principal. Parents should encourage their children to behave and sit down at all times while riding the bus.

General Bus Rules

1. Obey the instructions of the bus driver. At no time will a student act toward, or address comments to the bus driver in a disrespectful manner, or refuse to cooperate with the driver.
2. Board and leave the bus at designated stops only.
3. Only students who are eligible to ride may be transported. Students must ride their assigned bus.
4. Do not ask to ride home on another bus with a friend without a note from home.
5. It is the responsibility of the parents to provide transportation to school if a child misses the bus.
6. If you do not ride for three days, you must call the transportation office (817-439-8282) or the bus may not come by again until contacted.

The rest if you are interested.

I think most of this should be thrown back at the parents. I could go on and on but really don't feel like typing that much.

Aren't the parents allowed to write a note or something to either transportation or bus driver in advance? I thought as long as it was in writing and in advance they were.