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Parent raises allegations about bus-garage conduct; board hears concerns about sixth-grade lockers and phone-pouch rules
Summary
During public comment a parent alleged students and staff had been harassed or assaulted on buses and urged re-evaluation of bus-garage staffing; she also criticized removal of sixth-grade lockers and a phone-pouch practice. The board acknowledged the concerns and said staff and administration would follow up.
A parent speaking during the board's public-comment period urged the Whitney Point board to investigate alleged misconduct in the bus garage and appealed for changes to recent locker and phone-pouch rules.
Identifying herself as Victoria Bastards, the speaker said she had been contacted by several parents reporting unprofessional behavior and alleged incidents on buses, including bullying and, she alleged, assaults involving students and staff. "I have had parents reach out to me about their children being harassed, assaulted on the bus... not only by students, but by the bus driver, by the bus monitors," she said, asking that the board "reevaluate" bus-garage staffing and how parent concerns are handled.
Bastards also said removal of sixth-grade lockers and a new rule requiring phones be placed in pouches or bins had left students without secure places for sports bags and personal items. She told the board her daughter had been exempted from some requirements and that communication from building administrators had been vague. "They're just losing their sense of independence," Bastards said of sixth-graders.
Board members allowed extended public comment in response and heard the parent say she had raised issues with building administrators but wanted stronger follow-up. The chair reminded the public that the board would take comments under consideration and that staff would follow up through the appropriate channels.
Separately, Damon Bridal, a TRA agriculture technology teacher, introduced a proposed FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter, described early fundraising and outreach work, and sought board support for forming an official chapter and for student involvement in upcoming competitions and conventions.
What happens next: The board did not take immediate disciplinary or personnel action on the floor. The chair and administrators stated they would forward public concerns to building administrators and appropriate staff for follow up and investigation; any formal personnel actions would occur outside the public meeting and be reported to the board in due course.
