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Long-time district employee alleges harassment and says bus drivers are leaving
Summary
During public comment, a district transportation employee said she has suffered harassment, is considering retirement, and that drivers are leaving because of supervisory behavior; she said she has audio and video evidence and told the board she had raised issues with internal counsel.
At the March 2026 Palm Beach County School Board meeting, a district employee, identified in her remarks as having worked for the district for 40 years, described ongoing harassment in facilities and transportation operations and said the workplace conditions have driven bus drivers to leave.
Evangeline Patterson, who spoke during the public comment period, said she is being targeted at work, cited family medical obligations (including a husband in hospice and a son awaiting transplant), and said she has FMLA protections yet still faces harassment and inaccurate attendance records. She said she is in the process of retiring because she cannot tolerate the situation any longer and that many drivers are leaving because they are tired of how they are treated by supervisors.
"They are leaving because they are tired of how they're being treated from the the bosses in the office yelling and screaming," Patterson said in public comment. "I ain't nobody's child. I'm grown." (Public comment, Evangeline Patterson)
Patterson told the board she has audio and video evidence and has spoken to internal general counsel; she asked the board to recognize the problem and to address it. The transcript does not show an on-the-record board response or a staff presentation addressing her specific allegations during the meeting.
Why it matters Allegations of workplace harassment and high staff turnover in school transportation are operational and safety issues for a district that depends on bus drivers to transport students safely. The claims, as presented in public comment, allege potential mismanagement and possible violations of employee protections; board follow-up and administrative investigation would be typical next steps.
Context and next steps Patterson said she has provided audio and video evidence to support her statements and has discussed the issues with internal general counsel. The transcript does not record an immediate administrative reply or a timeline for investigation. The board or administration could direct HR, internal audit, or the inspector general’s office to investigate and provide findings or corrective actions.
Sources and attribution All direct quotations and paraphrases in this report come from the public comment recorded in the meeting transcript and are attributed to Evangeline Patterson.
