Bus driver, attendant fired after leaving special needs 4-year-old alone on DC bus for hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taxi drivers do this (socialize with other drivers) when they are not driving.

What is the harm in that?

Nothing. But I think PP is saying that their socializing makes it appear they are not behaving professionally or properly while on duty.

[Anonymous]

This article has more details:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Child-Left-on-DC-School-Bus-181183651.html

[Anonymous]

Good thing this didn't happen during the summer and the inside would be too hot!

[Anonymous]

OMG. This is just awful. Thank goodness it wasn't hot out or that child would be dead.

"The employees admitted disabling a buzzer alert in the back of the bus, Mahaley said. That alert normally forces a driver or attendant to walk to the back of the bus to turn it off while checking for children.

The attendant sat up front with the driver instead of in the back seat where she belonged, which also is against the rules."

Is this criminal behavior? It should be.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is absolutely awful, but tragically, not altogether uncommon, even for parents driving their own kids:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701549.html

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be too quick to be glad the driver was fired. No doubt they will appeal and they are represented by the Union. I would be money this driver will get reinstated but with some new "safety" training or at least get a significant severance package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. This is just awful. Thank goodness it wasn't hot out or that child would be dead.

"The employees admitted disabling a buzzer alert in the back of the bus, Mahaley said. That alert normally forces a driver or attendant to walk to the back of the bus to turn it off while checking for children.

The attendant sat up front with the driver instead of in the back seat where she belonged, which also is against the rules."

Is this criminal behavior? It should be.

Policy also requires that the drivers walk to the back of the bus anyway before exiting the bus. They clearly needed to be fired and they were. It has happened in every jurisdiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be too quick to be glad the driver was fired. No doubt they will appeal and they are represented by the Union. I would be money this driver will get reinstated but with some new "safety" training or at least get a significant severance package.

I used to work there. The union would not represent the driver in this circumstance. Stop jumping to conclusions about unions. Drivers are NEVER reinstated in DC when child safety is concerned. The union won't touch it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taxi drivers do this (socialize with other drivers) when they are not driving.

Sure, but they're not on the clock, responsible for the transportation and safety of students who cannot advocate for themselves. Do you really not understand the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. This is just awful. Thank goodness it wasn't hot out or that child would be dead.

"The employees admitted disabling a buzzer alert in the back of the bus, Mahaley said. That alert normally forces a driver or attendant to walk to the back of the bus to turn it off while checking for children.

The attendant sat up front with the driver instead of in the back seat where she belonged, which also is against the rules."

Is this criminal behavior? It should be.

That was my first thought, too!

At my child's school, if DC hasn't arrived by 15 - 30 minutes after school officially begins, I get a call from the office asking if there is a problem (and it was really embarrassing too, even though we were at the Dr's office at the time, for an appointment).

If DCPS had such a policy in place, it would help to alleviate the alarming incidents that remain completely systemic to SN education in DCPS. Walker Jones (the child's school) has a very high SN population because of its autism program. But as ever, the situation is apparently that the children aren't students, they're just numbers to punch on the way to a paycheck.

"Grist for the mill" - after all, they don't pay union dues.

Kaya, step away from the charter schools unless and until you can clean up your own messes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Montgomery County, buses have a post-trip safety alarm that arms when the ignition is turned off. If the driver doesn't flip another switch at the back of the bus, the bus horn goes off. It's meant to require drivers to go back each and every time and check the seats.

I'd ask the school board about that if my jursidiction didn't have them.

Very interesting. I did not know about this. Good to know!

There is/was a safety alarm. In this case it didn't make a difference - the employees admitted to disabling it.

[Anonymous]

Channel 4 reported tonight that the driver and aide could face child neglect charges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Channel 4 reported tonight that the driver and aide could face child neglect charges.

As they should, if this would have happened in August this child would be dead.

[Anonymous]

OMG! My heart goes to the little guy and the family. The driver and attendant should be punished. As PPs pointed out, he would be dead. The family should pursue legal means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. This is just awful. Thank goodness it wasn't hot out or that child would be dead.

"The employees admitted disabling a buzzer alert in the back of the bus, Mahaley said. That alert normally forces a driver or attendant to walk to the back of the bus to turn it off while checking for children.

The attendant sat up front with the driver instead of in the back seat where she belonged, which also is against the rules."

Is this criminal behavior? It should be.

That was my first thought, too!

At my child's school, if DC hasn't arrived by 15 - 30 minutes after school officially begins, I get a call from the office asking if there is a problem (and it was really embarrassing too, even though we were at the Dr's office at the time, for an appointment).

If DCPS had such a policy in place, it would help to alleviate the alarming incidents that remain completely systemic to SN education in DCPS. Walker Jones (the child's school) has a very high SN population because of its autism program. But as ever, the situation is apparently that the children aren't students, they're just numbers to punch on the way to a paycheck.

"Grist for the mill" - after all, they don't pay union dues.

Kaya, step away from the charter schools unless and until you can clean up your own messes.

Kaya doesn't run the buses, the State Superientendent Hosanna Mahaley Johnson does.