School bus driver raises safety, discipline and communication concerns at Greater Clark County Schools meeting

Charles Hunt, a school bus driver and resident, told the Greater Clark County Schools Board of Trustees on Oct. 15 that discipline, communication and staffing problems on district buses were creating safety risks and leaving drivers unsupported.

Hunt told the board he has faced repeated incidents in which drivers were told they must return a student to the bus and transport them home even when they believed the student’s behavior endangered others. “If you got a kid that will not follow your direction, will not do what you tell them, we get we’re being told to leave them on the bus and we have to take them home. Now that’s messed up,” Hunt said during the public-comment period.

Hunt also described a lack of routine communication from school offices to drivers. He said there were multiple write-ups and cited an instance in which a student with low blood sugar did not receive appropriate attention from the driver; Hunt said transportation staff told him certain health information was not being shared with drivers.

Board members acknowledged Hunt’s comments and said they would look further into the concerns he raised. One board member thanked Hunt and said the board shared his concern, adding that the district treats bus riding as a privilege and that severe behavior can lead to removal from transportation: “If the behavior is severe enough and extreme enough, then that child should be taken off the bus,” the board member said.

The board did not take formal action during the public-comment segment. Several trustees urged improved communication between building administrators, transportation staff and drivers and said they would review discipline procedures and training opportunities.

The remarks came during the public-comment portion of the Oct. 15 meeting. Hunt said he has reported specific incidents to transportation staff and provided names and dates but had not received satisfactory follow-up.