AUBURN — A third-grader was removed from a school bus on Newbury Street Wednesday afternoon, but police and school officials said the incident probably wasn't as ugly as it appeared at first glance.
The boy, a Walton School student, was removed after he went "out of control" during a disagreement with other kids, according to School Superintendent Katy Grondin. The parents of other kids were notified about the incident.
Some who witnessed the brief drama believed that several police officers were needed to bring the matter under control.
Not so, Grondin said. It was mostly a matter of bad timing.
"There were already police cars on the road for another incident," she said.
Police said the officers manning two of the cruisers were not involved in the school bus matter. They were in the area on other business.
A pair of school resource officers did arrive at the scene, police said, after the bus driver called to report that a child was out of control. The disruption involved third-graders, Grondin said, who are 8 and 9 years old.
"The kids were upset, obviously," Grondin said.
The boy at the center of the skirmish "had trouble de-escalating," Grondin said and was removed from the bus to separate him from the others.
Parents were called to pick up their children, and the situation was explained to them. Grondin said school officials will take a look at the bus schedule and make changes where necessary.
"We're looking at placement," she said, "and which kids should be on which bus."
Nobody was seriously hurt. Grondin credit the bus driver for taking quick action and the school resource officers for their fast response.
"Everybody handled the situation very professionally," she said.
Report a correction
My son and daughter were on that bus.
My children stated that the kid punched a younger girl in the face, ripped up some other kids homework, then began assaulting other kids. When the bus driver approached the kids stood up on the backrests and assaulted the bus driver. The bus driver then told some of the older kids to get the smaller kids to the back of the bus and away from harm. This bus had Pre-K students on it. According to my children this kid was cursing the whole time. My daughter whom is 5 came home crying and scared and refused to take the bus this morning.
We received a call from the school department later stating that the child involved would no longer be allowed to ride the bus. They gave no further information.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.My how times have changed......
When I was just a little student, and I found myself with a severe case of "de-escalation", My bus driver used the old fashioned method of choice back then, a swift kick in the posterior part of my anatomy, preferably toward the door. It's almost like I can still hear him yelling, something like, "I'm paid by the hour to drive the bus, not babysit". Like it or not, I somehow always made it home every day. My how times have changed.......
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.