Parents raise safety concerns after disruptive incidents on Lazar bus 15; district pursues progressive discipline and temporary measures

Parents of students who ride Lazar bus 15 told the Montville Township Board of Education on Tuesday that they fear for student safety after multiple disruptive incidents on the route, including a reported threat that prompted a police response.

Donna Polk, whose son rode the bus, said one day a bus driver pulled over because students’ behavior made it unsafe to continue and, on another day, police were called after a threat was reported. Parents said the incidents followed other disruptions in which students were loudly shouting and disregarding bus rules.

District administrators described several measures taken in response: cameras installed on the bus, assigned seating (alphabetical), a chaperone on the morning and afternoon runs, extra principal/vice‑principal visits and Montville police presence at stops. The district said it follows a progressive disciplinary approach aligned with the student code of conduct and that administrators have used age‑appropriate counseling and discipline steps for the students involved.

The parent speakers said the repeated presence of disruptive students — three in particular, according to parents — had consequences for well‑behaved riders, who were temporarily reassigned seats and were subject to stricter controls while the district addressed the behavior. The district said the temporary measures were implemented for the safety of all students and that administrators will ease restrictions as behavior improves.

At the meeting, administrators said they would continue monitoring the route, communicate with affected families and enforce progressive discipline aligned with district policy.