A Mount Pleasant school bus driver was appropriately fired for kicking an unruly third-grade boy off the bus on a dark morning without notifying parents or administrators, according to state records released this week.
Booting a child off a bus and then driving off is in stark contrast to guidelines contained in a state handbook and contrary to what school transportation leaders in the Corridor say they teach their drivers about handling disciplinary issues onboard.
“It is not appropriate for a bus driver to remove a student from the bus unless it is at their regularly assigned bus stop or school site,” according to the state’s handbook for school bus drivers.
In the Mount Pleasant case, the boy and his fifth-grade sister were “squabbling” as they boarded the bus between 6:30 and 6:40 a.m. Oct. 13, Administrative Law Judge Julie Elder wrote in her ruling. Rather than separating the children or trying to de-escalate the problem, driver Jess Amos told the boy to get off, records in the case show.
The third-grader was only a few blocks from home, but it was still dark, trees and vehicles blocked the view of his home and there was no guarantee a parent was there, Elder wrote. Amos never contacted the parents or school officials to tell them.
“Instead of making the required calls in this situation, the claimant continued talking to his wife on his cellphone rather than performing the essential functions of his job,” Elder wrote.
Amos, who was hired in 2009, was fired Oct. 15. Initially, Amos was eligible for unemployment benefits but upon appeal, Elder ruled Amos was fired for misconduct and was overpaid $1,445 in unemployment.
A phone listing for Amos could not be found, and Mount Pleasant did not return phone messages.
In these situations, the driver should first contact a parent, the school transportation director or superintendent’s office before forcing the child off the bus, according to the ruling.
Fortunately, the boy arrived home as his mother was pulling out of the driveway for work, Elder wrote. The mother relayed what had happened to the district, which investigated.
“The fortunate timing of that situation averted a potentially tragic ending of a young child being left alone,” Elder wrote.
Removing a child from the bus away from the bus stop — without knowing whether a parent is home and failing to notify parents or school administrators the student is no longer on the bus — is cause for automatic termination, the records show.
Denny Schreckengast, Cedar Rapids schools transportation manager, said while students have disembarked at unauthorized stops, in no circumstances can a bus driver force a student off without another authority present.
“If any of my staff would kick a student off the bus, staff or administration would come and take them off the bus,” he said.
Bus staff are instructed to immediately contact school officials to determine the best solution during behavior emergencies, he said. If necessary, the bus is pulled over and law enforcement is called, Schreckengast said.
In Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, consequences for poor behavior by students on a bus is typically handled after-the-fact by the school administration, which can lead to loss of bus privileges.
In some cases, such as a fight onboard, police have the authority to remove a student from the bus, said Craig Hansel, Iowa City schools chief financial officer.
“Our bus drivers do not remove students from the bus in transit, or for any reason, really,” Hansel said. “It can only be school officials or law enforcement that remove students.”
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City bus staff receive training at least annually, if not monthly, on handling behavior and emergency issues.
According to Iowa Department of Education bus driver handbook, when operating the bus becomes unsafe because of behavior issues, the driver is instructed to pull off the road and park, remove the keys, stand and speak to the students involved without entering a verbal confrontation and reiterate rules and consequences.
Final steps include placing the students in assigned seats, moving them to the front seat next to the driver, and if necessary calling police or an administrator.
Mount Pleasant would not clarify whether Amos would have been disciplined had he called the school or parents.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/n...fired-for-booting-boy-off-school-bus-20151211
Booting a child off a bus and then driving off is in stark contrast to guidelines contained in a state handbook and contrary to what school transportation leaders in the Corridor say they teach their drivers about handling disciplinary issues onboard.
“It is not appropriate for a bus driver to remove a student from the bus unless it is at their regularly assigned bus stop or school site,” according to the state’s handbook for school bus drivers.
In the Mount Pleasant case, the boy and his fifth-grade sister were “squabbling” as they boarded the bus between 6:30 and 6:40 a.m. Oct. 13, Administrative Law Judge Julie Elder wrote in her ruling. Rather than separating the children or trying to de-escalate the problem, driver Jess Amos told the boy to get off, records in the case show.
The third-grader was only a few blocks from home, but it was still dark, trees and vehicles blocked the view of his home and there was no guarantee a parent was there, Elder wrote. Amos never contacted the parents or school officials to tell them.
“Instead of making the required calls in this situation, the claimant continued talking to his wife on his cellphone rather than performing the essential functions of his job,” Elder wrote.
Amos, who was hired in 2009, was fired Oct. 15. Initially, Amos was eligible for unemployment benefits but upon appeal, Elder ruled Amos was fired for misconduct and was overpaid $1,445 in unemployment.
A phone listing for Amos could not be found, and Mount Pleasant did not return phone messages.
In these situations, the driver should first contact a parent, the school transportation director or superintendent’s office before forcing the child off the bus, according to the ruling.
Fortunately, the boy arrived home as his mother was pulling out of the driveway for work, Elder wrote. The mother relayed what had happened to the district, which investigated.
“The fortunate timing of that situation averted a potentially tragic ending of a young child being left alone,” Elder wrote.
Removing a child from the bus away from the bus stop — without knowing whether a parent is home and failing to notify parents or school administrators the student is no longer on the bus — is cause for automatic termination, the records show.
Denny Schreckengast, Cedar Rapids schools transportation manager, said while students have disembarked at unauthorized stops, in no circumstances can a bus driver force a student off without another authority present.
“If any of my staff would kick a student off the bus, staff or administration would come and take them off the bus,” he said.
Bus staff are instructed to immediately contact school officials to determine the best solution during behavior emergencies, he said. If necessary, the bus is pulled over and law enforcement is called, Schreckengast said.
In Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, consequences for poor behavior by students on a bus is typically handled after-the-fact by the school administration, which can lead to loss of bus privileges.
In some cases, such as a fight onboard, police have the authority to remove a student from the bus, said Craig Hansel, Iowa City schools chief financial officer.
“Our bus drivers do not remove students from the bus in transit, or for any reason, really,” Hansel said. “It can only be school officials or law enforcement that remove students.”
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City bus staff receive training at least annually, if not monthly, on handling behavior and emergency issues.
According to Iowa Department of Education bus driver handbook, when operating the bus becomes unsafe because of behavior issues, the driver is instructed to pull off the road and park, remove the keys, stand and speak to the students involved without entering a verbal confrontation and reiterate rules and consequences.
Final steps include placing the students in assigned seats, moving them to the front seat next to the driver, and if necessary calling police or an administrator.
Mount Pleasant would not clarify whether Amos would have been disciplined had he called the school or parents.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/n...fired-for-booting-boy-off-school-bus-20151211
