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Parent raises safety and conduct concerns about Pottsgrove school bus driver during public comment
Summary
At the March 12 board meeting a Pottsgrove parent reported repeated pickup irregularities, alleged improper conduct by a bus driver toward a child with autism and anxiety, and incidents on the bus; administration said transportation leadership would follow up.
A Pottsgrove parent told the school board on March 12 that a contracted bus driver’s repeated pickup irregularities and interactions with his son — who has autism and anxiety — have caused significant distress and led the family to consider alternative transportation.
"I'm extremely nervous," said parent Corey Sombers, who gave details about multiple incidents beginning Jan. 21 when cold weather coincided with an alleged write‑up from a bus driver. Sombers said the written incident described the driver stopping and having to "slam on the brakes," which video review by school staff later found to be inaccurate. "He reviewed the video. This did not happen," Sombers said of the district dean of students' review. Sombers added that, despite the finding, the driver continued to make comments to the child and the family received no acknowledgement from the bus company about missed or incorrect pickups.
Sombers described one incident when the child was waiting a short distance from the house and said the driver did not fully stop. He noted the child is expected to wait outside between 7:30 and sometimes as late as 7:50 a.m. when pick‑up times vary, which worsens the child's anxiety. "Her job is to pick him up," Sombers said, summarizing his expectation of the driver’s duties.
Superintendent Dr. John Finney and the board acknowledged the public comment and offered to have transportation leadership follow up. Dr. Finney asked transportation director Casey Blankenbiller to contact the family; the board recorded that Blankenbiller had already received an email with details and that staff would follow up the next day.
Why it matters: the complaint touches on student safety, special‑education sensitivity, and service reliability for district transportation. The parent also referenced broader concerns about conduct and two bus incidents that required police attention, though those events involved other students and the parent said his child was not involved in that bus incident.
Board action: the board did not take an immediate formal vote but directed staff to investigate and follow up with the family. The administration committed to further communication with the parent.
