Petition for Termination of Bus Driver Due to Unsafe Practices, Negligence, and Misconduct

We, the undersigned, are writing to express our deep concern regarding the behavior of the bus driver assigned to bus #334. This bus serves the children of Sullivan County, Tennessee and is contracted by the schools from a private bus company. The driver’s actions have repeatedly endangered the safety and well-being of students, created an environment of intimidation and misconduct, and caused unnecessary emotional distress. We, as concerned community members, parents, and witnesses, are calling for the immediate termination of this bus driver.

I. Unsafe Seating Practices and Endangerment of Children

On March 12, 2025, a child, who is 10 years old, 120 lbs, and 4’11”, was instructed by the bus driver to sit in a booster seat designed for children weighing no more than 65 lbs and measuring no taller than 4’9”. The bus driver allowed the child to sit in this unsafe seat, which clearly violated child safety regulations.

The child, who did not know that sitting in this seat was dangerous due to their age, size, and lack of understanding of child restraint laws, was unaware of the safety risks associated with being in a seat that was too small. The bus driver, however, knew that this was inappropriate and allowed it to happen.

Later that same day, the same child was forced back into the same unsafe booster seat, despite the driver being fully aware that the child was too big for it. When the child expressed that they could not sit in the seat because it’s a “baby seat”, the bus driver ignored the child's concerns, telling them to "move over" and "get in the baby seat" and verbally forced the child into the seat. The child had no choice but to comply, as the driver insisted. The child remained in this dangerous seat for the entire ride home, despite being more than double the weight limit for the seat.

II. Audio Evidence of Bus Driver's Commands and Student Confirmation

There is audio evidence from a video recorded on the bus that shows the bus driver verbally commanding the child to get into the car seat, which was too small for the child. While the video does not visually capture the incident, the audio includes the following:

Driver: "Move in there. NOW."

Driver: "Move over."

Driver: "Get over there."

Driver: "Get in."

The audio then shows that the child reluctantly moved into the car seat after being commanded to do so by the driver. This action is confirmed by the statements of other students on the bus, who can be heard saying:

Student 1: "He's in the baby seat."

Student 2: "Your brother's in the baby seat."

This audio evidence clearly demonstrates the poor behavior of the bus driver, as well as the endangerment of the child by forcing them into a seat that was not safe for their size and weight.

III. Emotional Misconduct and Intimidation of Children

In addition to the unsafe seating practices, we are deeply concerned about the bus driver’s verbal misconduct and intimidation directed at students. On the same day as the incident with the car seat, the driver told the children as they got off the bus, "If your parents have a problem with me, you can make an appointment and say it to my face." Such statements are completely inappropriate and are not acceptable behavior for an adult in a position of responsibility, especially towards children. This is also retaliatory in nature, when you factor in that the parent had to file a complaint the previous day of the incident.

Witnesses, including other parents and school officials, have reported that the driver regularly engages in hostile interactions with the children, causing undue emotional distress. This behavior has negatively impacted the children’s mental health, causing stress, anxiety, and behavioral issues. It is clear that the driver’s actions are not only unprofessional but are also misconduct.

IV. Retaliation Against Families and Students

In response to complaints regarding these incidents, the bus company owner has threatened to remove children from the bus service altogether as a form of retaliation against those who raised concerns. Such actions are not only unethical but likely violate students’ rights. No family should be subjected to retaliation for advocating for the safety and well-being of their children.

Moreover, dozens of other complaints regarding this driver’s unsafe driving, verbal misconduct, and mistreatment of children have been ignored by the bus company. Parents and citizens have submitted written complaints about the following issues:

Verbal misconduct directed at children.

Slamming on her brakes to purposely sling children into the backs of their seats.

Reckless driving that has caused other drivers on the road to slam on their brakes to avoid a collision.

A situation where she badgered a child for 20 minutes until the child broke down, tried to get off the bus, and the principal and police were called.

Parents reporting that the driver frequently passes stops in the morning, even with children chasing and waving her down to stop.

V. Request for Immediate Termination and Action

Given the seriousness of these issues, we, the undersigned, respectfully request the following actions:

Immediate termination of the bus driver assigned to bus #334, due to unsafe practices, emotional misconduct, and negligence.

Investigation into the bus company’s practices to ensure all safety protocols are followed and that employees are held accountable for misconduct.

Implementation of stricter safety and conduct guidelines for all bus drivers, to prevent any future incidents of endangerment or misconduct.

Ongoing monitoring and regular reviews of bus driver conduct and student safety on all school transportation services.

We call upon the bus company, and relevant authorities to take swift and decisive action to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all children under the care of bus #334.

VI. Signatures

By signing this petition, we, the undersigned, affirm that we have witnessed or are aware of the dangerous, negligent, or abusive practices described above. We urge the immediate termination of the bus driver and the implementation of measures to ensure that this never happens again.

Audio evidence is has been submitted to the school and authorities.