Compiled List Of Parent Complaints / Witness Statements

These are only some of the many accounts reported by parents and community members regarding this same bus driver. This is not about one incident, one upset parent, or one child. Similar concerns have been reported by multiple families involving multiple children, schools, and school years.

This incident is simply the point at which these ongoing concerns could no longer be viewed as isolated events. When similar concerns continue to be reported year after year by different families, it is reasonable to ask that they be considered as a whole and that any potential pattern be properly reviewed.

Documentation has been preserved for each account, including screenshots of comments, messages, posts, complaints, letters, and emails. Where available, supporting video and audio evidence has also been preserved and can be provided to the appropriate parties for review.

“She did this to my son as well when he was in 5th grade and they had her working just days after.”

“She also tried to bribe kids in Emmett elementary school when she was driving the bus for them and hit a tree... She also tried to get a complete stranger to take four kids with them in a jeep and she is still working two years later”

“Ole Barbara! Boy oh boy! If salvation could be lost then I would have lost mine last year when she was the helper on my child's bus. Thankfully, my husband stopped at the bus stop and handle it or I probably would have went to Jail. The next day the school and the bus company told us she was no longer on the bus. Woman like her DO NOT need to be school bus drivers. These are children, not her lab rats”

“I really thought they let her go after last years incident. My son was screamed at and told to “shut his mouth" when he was speaking to me and not her. She then sat in front of my house for hours refusing to let kids off the bus.”

“Same story different day…. This is the bus driver that forced my son into her granddaughters car seat on her bus when he was 11 years old and 120 lbs. I posted her in these groups and other bus drivers came after me for it but she’s a danger and needs to be stopped. She was fired that year and they rehired her the next school year. There are great bus drivers out there, it’s a very very hard job…. But she is not one of those bus drivers. I even made a petition to have her removed that year… they did… and then brought her back. This is very sad to read.”

Scannerfood: “Sullivan Co, Tn - School Bus Incident

"Bus is on Lightwood st will not let kids off bus. Its

334PM"

Last update appears multiple officers now on scene approximately 1 hr later.

Update: multiple parents have advised us there was a significant incident between a student and the bus driver, that school officials nor the bus company are able to comment on due to privacy”

“I can understand a child complaining that a bus driver is strict, but when I get a text from my daughter saying she isn’t sure she’ll make it home in one piece and that the bus driver went off the road, that’s a whole different story. On top of that, the way she is treating them is unacceptable. They are children.”

“My son called me last year because he was terrified of her screaming at kids on the bus and being violent with them. When she saw he had his phone out to his ear she started screaming at him to “Get off the phone!” I made him give her the phone and started recording. As soon as she heard the automated voice say “this call is now being recorded” she said “stop recording me” and then changed her tune and started telling me that he’s not allowed to have his phone out and that’s why she was telling him to put it up. I told her if my child feels unsafe he can call me anytime he wants to as he’s not disrupting anyone and that I heard her screaming at them. This is absolutely pathetic that they are allowing this woman to be on another bus let alone drive it!!!”

“We had problems with her when ——— was in 5th grade and I caused a scene because I had to leave work several times to go pick him up because of crap that happened on that bus! Pure trash and shouldn’t be allowed to be a bus driver let alone around children!! I can’t believe this is still going on because she should be in jail for child abuse!!”

“I have complained on her numerous times since she became the driver. Central bus company tells me they will take care of the problem and never do.”

“my child was on a child’s cell phone one day begging me to come get them off the bus because they were scared. She had the bus stopped and screaming at them to hang up the phone… I told him to hand the phone to her and tell her it’s your mom and she hung up the phone”

“My daughter has called me crying scared because the bus driver stopping the bus and yelling at them. She tells them to hang up the phone but I told them I pay the bill and they will keep me on the phone and put it in a pocket so I can still hear what she is saying as I record. Although we haven't had major problems, my children complain about the way she talks to other children often and that she stops to scream at them a lot. They are intimidated enough by how other kids are treated on the bus that they just keep their heads down till they get home”

“——— that drives BUS 476 for Sullivan Co school systems (Central Bus Co) is A DANGER TO OUR CHILDREN!!

This afternoon, she physically grabbed MULTIPLE children riding her bus, Drove off the road multiple times at high rates of speed, and practically KIDNAPPED 2 students, by preventing them from exiting the bus at THEIR HOME and LEAVING, against their mother's demands! 

She has been stopped by police multiple times since last school year, for the same occurrences and they CONTINUE to allow these situations to happen!!!

The director of transportation for Sullivan County school systems (Justin Steffey) and the principal at westridge high school (George Laoo) handled this situation extremely poor, completely heartless and acted as tho this is normal... BECAUSE IT IS!  To them!

And then these CLOWNS expect me to trust THEM with my children!? 

Please listen to your children!! Sometimes they are NOT being "dramatic"!! And, most importantly, MAKE A POLICE REPORT! This was an extremely scary situation for our children and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!”

My children have been instructed not to engage with her. To just sit quietly and not speak and then to get off of the bus. The child in front of my son dropped their coat today and my son picked it up and handed it to them over the back of the seat… she then stopped the bus and asked my son why he threw the coat. He did not throw it and he did not respond. She asked him again and he told her his parents told him not to talk and she said “fine I’ll just write you up then”

Yesterday he had one leg crossed (not in the air, not on the seat, but crossed) and she pulled the bus over for five minutes screaming for him to put his feet on the ground from the front of the bus. He didn’t even know she was speaking to him until she walked up to him screaming in his face. He was not standing up, and was seated, and because his leg was crossed… “his feet weren’t on the ground”… 

“And I am not saying he shouldn’t sit straight and feet on the ground… but it takes five seconds to say “hey there, I can’t recall your name, but it’s safest if we put all feet on the floor, can you do that for me?” And then go on about her day. I assure you my child listens. He is a worrier as it is and avoids conflict, and is always concerned about doing things safely…. She has picked on children on that bus and then moves on to the next… she picked the wrong child this time.”

“And yes she left a bruise and a scratch on him and I was denied pressing charges on her”

“That is absolutely crazy. That bus driver herself is crazy and I'm not one to speak bad on people but what's wrong is wrong and what's right it's right and she is in the wrong 100%. I don't agree with her being a bus driver. I don't agree with her working with the public or with children and I'll let that known right then and there the day I had to come to the school to pick up my son from all the cops from where she pestered him into having his meltdown that he had. and I'm so sorry your kids had to see that. My son is now called the crash out boy at school and on the bus. He was off the bus for a while after that and I didn't let him go back on except for 2 days and I thought she was on vacation and they had her right back on the bus. But now she's off and I just had to chase down the new bus driver cuz she flew right past our house and I had to follow her all the way to the school to let her know this is the second day in a row she's flew past my house. She tried to let me know that she stopped at my house yesterday. I said absolutely not. We were sitting down there. We're always down here at this bus stop. She was nice so I was nice. But I'm not playing these games with these bus drivers and these kids”

“I have driven behind this bus on John B Dennis and have witnessed them driving at high speeds (60+MPH) on multiple occasions. I didn’t call because there weren’t children on the bus at the time, but if I see it happen again, I will.”

“She needs her license taken, I’ve seen her driving all nuts before earlier this year.”

“Nothing ever happens to this lady!!! Idk how she keeps getting cleared but she had multiple incidents against her last year. For some reason, she keeps being allowed to drive this bus she’s rude and disrespectful, and she has no care for the safety of those children.”

“yes this is her! She does nothing but speed through neighborhoods, runs off the road, even hit a mailbox and kept going. Last year she was always bullying my son & every kid on her bus. A girl had a panic attack and passed out. She did absolutely nothing. But pull over scream at the kids telling them all to sit down & shut up.

The students called 911 and helped the girl till help arrived. All due to her running off the road scaring the kids. She also expects kids to be up and at the door waiting to get off before she ever stops.

She pulled up one day to let my son off and was screaming at him because he wasnt already up and waiting when she stopped. My husband was outside and heard her. He spoke with her she made up lies that my son was always standing up, getting out of seat, laying down, cussing & being loud. We knew better than this. My son is very quiet & a good kid. I have also spoke with her a few times after my son came home upset or mad because of how she treated him & other kids. Thankfully my son is no longer on her bus. We called & several other parents called the school, the bus company & the school board last year and as you see absolutely nothing was done! Parents talk to & listen to what girl till help arrived. All due to her running off the road scaring the kids. She also expects kids to be up and at the door waiting to get off before she ever stops.”

“my kids bus driver was a problem last year. My kiddo told me she got pissed and was yelling at everyone while driving. Then she slammed on her breaks and whipped it around in the parking lot to take kids back to the school to drop them off instead of taking them home. Life 360 don’t lie. It said harsh breaking right at the CVS on valley drive and her turning around quickly. Their bus driver is always saying they can’t use their cell phones on the bus, and I’m sure this is why. She would be busted yelling at the kids. Not to mention all of her kids ride the bus with her while she is doing her route and according to multiple kids they are a huge distraction.”

“An anonymous post I made last year regarding this same bus driver: Reposting since people who know the company keep reporting the post and making light of a serious situation. I posted it here yesterday, and earlier today. Both were removed. I posted it here because the people in this group are the ones that this affects. I could have posted it publically but I want the people who need to know to see it, and you are all here. Admin: If my post violates any certain rules the group may have, please let me know what those rules are and I can adjust my post to fit the guidelines accordingly. Also, admin: feel free to contact the school or SRO or the Director of Transportation. I give them full permission to validate what happened to my son, what I have posted below. 

Wednesday, my child rode bus 334. During his ride home, a child was moved beside of him, so my son, who is 10 years old, 120lbs, and 4’11 had to scoot over and sat in a booster seat for children with a weight max limit of 65lbs and a height max limit of 4’9. After that child got off the bus, my son moved back to the regular part of the seat. The bus driver then moved another child to the seat with him and told him to scoot over. At that point he told her he couldn’t that there was a baby seat, and her response was “I don’t care” “scoot over” “get in it” “move over” “get in the baby seat”… so my son did. He got in the seat that he was over the weight limit for by double… and rode the entire way home on it. 

Upon speaking with the company (I was told the phone call was being recorded upon the first greeting which was great in my opinion, I have nothing to hide) I was told they reviewed the footage and that my child “got in a seat that was too small for him on his own.” 

I informed them that yes, he did the first time, and I posed the question “at 10 years old is he responsible for knowing child restraint minimum and maximum weight requirements? Or is the driver of the bus?” The owner did not answer my question but gave me the runaround answer that my child did it on his own and they were all laughing about it and joking, so he wasn’t upset about it.” 

I asked about the second incident, where she told him to get back in it… and I was told he did not see the second incident and so I informed them they had not gone far enough through the video because it was there. (Mind you: I HAVE SOUND RECORDED EVIDENCE). He states he did not see that and that he would review the tape further but that because he is a private business he does not have to provide that to me. I told him it was fine, I could have the school request it or subpoena it. 

I then further pushed for an answer about the car seat. I asked him if he felt it was my child’s responsibility or the bus drivers responsibility to know whether a car seat is safe for his weight. His response continued to be “he got in it on his own” I asked again… “is he supposed to know it’s too small? Is a 10 year old supposed to know the requirement. Because this is a recorded conversation on your end and you have admitted it was… so is he at fault or should the driver have realized he was endangering himself and moved him immediately?”

He wouldn’t even allow me to discuss the second incident of the day where she FORCED him into it the second time and drove him all the way home on it. He would interrupt and talk over me.

I requested a copy of the phone recording and he told me that from now on our conversations should only be relayed by a school official. 

This isn’t the first incident on this bus… this is one of MANY that involve my children, other children, parents, and driver complaints, that get buried by this privately owned bus company. The bus company owner told me today there have only been FOUR. I have filed THREE this week so I know that is a blatant MASSIVE lie. The children on this bus have been pushed to the MAX emotionally and mentally by this woman. Her driving and baiting chicks ten into an argument or trouble has to END. You can. Only push a human being so much until they hit a breaking point, and she is doing this to helpless elementary children that are not old enough to properly regulate their emotions. She is picking fights and arguments with children and flailing them around this bus on the ride home. It is causing stress, behavior issues, and traumatizing these children. The school has complained repeatedly, the police have been involved, and yet NOTHING is done to find a more qualified driver. 

Did I also mention that as my children got off the bus yesterday, her words to them were “and you can tell your parents that if they have a problem with me they can make an appointment and say it to my face” 

WHAT ADULT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SAYS THAT TO CHILDREN? I guess the bus driver of 334 does. And while her and the bus companies intimidation tactics may work on children, they do not work on me. I was told today at the end of the call that he just needs to go ahead and have my children off of his busses and not be able to ride them anymore. I have a feeling this is called “retaliation” and possibly illegal but I’m still in the beginning stages of this so I could be wrong. I’ve also been told that him being in that seat could be child endangerment and/or negligence but I could be wrong.

I’m also willing to bet that the phone call that was recorded by the company will never be provided to my or to the police if and when requested. They will pretend as though it never existed, but it DOES. I’m also willing to bet that video footage from the bus will magically disappear. I have my recording though that my other son provided. 

Speaking of the video my other son recorded… I was informed by the bus company that he “heard about that recording and it was illegal to record on the bus and he had already made a report about it”… The police department told me that my child was on a public road and can record whatever he wants. 

Intimidation will not work with me, and I ASK and BEG every single parent, child, driver, and citizen who sees, hears, witnesses, or has evidence of ANY issues on that bus to please PLEASE file official complaints and DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT. This bus company will bury it and LIE if you do not. (The owner literally called me a liar and told me that the CHILDREN on the bus BAIT the driver… when it is LITERALLY the opposite. That woman LIVES to yell and scream.)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REPORT IT WITH THE SCHOOL, WITH THE SRO, WITH THE POLICE AND WITH THE COMPANY! 

I can and have pulled my children off of this bus… but there are dozens of others who are still having to deal with this.”

“You've got to be kidding right? Reaching out to people who have no personal character witness of you, or your mother as a bus driver to hear her side, is crazy. 

I'll tell you my side. 

Mother to mother. 

My son was on this bus last year. The first day of school, she mowed over a stop sign. Scared the kids to death. 

She continued yelling and screaming at them for minor things. 

Then, within the same week, there was a child in need of medical attention on the back of the bus. 

Kids were screaming for her to stop the bus, that they had a medical emergency. 

The child with the emergency was lying down, this child had a history of having seizures. They told her this. Instead of caring about the child's well-being, she was mad at the kid for laying down in the seat. (Child had already passed out at this point and the driver was more mad about her laying down, rather than giving her medical attention) 

Multiple kids called 911 because the kid had passed out. I'm not the mother of that kid, or she would've been fired sooner. So, I won't comment on that. 

Mrs.Barb, stopped the bus on the side of the road while a child was having a medical emergency and she NEVER ONCE took off her seat belt to go to the back of the bus to see if that kid was ok. NEVER checked to see if this child had a pulse. NEVER checked to see if they were having a seizure or not. NEVER checked to see if they were still breathing.

EMS shows up, my son is the one who opened up the back emergency hatch to get let the EMS in the back door faster to get this child. 

Mrs.Barb WAS STILL BUCKLED INTO HER SEAT, YELLING AT THE KIDS WHO WERE FRANTIC ABOUT THEIR FRIEND LYING THERE HELPLESS!!! 

So, no, we don't feel any remorse for your mother losing her job. 

As a matter of fact, I tried getting her fired last year. But, it wasn't my child in question or I would've pushed it as far as I could've went. 

But, what did happen is that I had multiple meetings with the Principles at Westridge. She stated my son talked to her inappropriately during this frantic time of kids begging her to do something, while their friend lay there lifeless. Which didn't happen. She stated my son was unruly by trying to open the back door to get the EMS to this child faster, which is bs because he was legitimately scared for this child's life and was reacting in every way that I had taught him to react in this situation. 

And the bus company reviewed all footage of her lies against my son, who was an innocent bystander, and they ruled that what she said could never be confirmed. 

Imagine that. A bus full of kids. One's passed out and needs help. You refuse to help them. You dont even check on the kid who needs help. Then yell at the other children because they're scared out of their minds. Unbelievable. She's a nutjob who deserves to be terminated. She let a child lie in the back of the bus for a long time without even checking or acting concerned. She stayed buckled into her seat while any one of our kids could've been having a seizure or God knows what else. Then getting mad at the kids who helped and falsifying lies onto them for helping. No remorse. There's 50 other moms who would agree with me and about 100 kids that could back up what I'm saying. Mother to mother, let it go. She's in the wrong.  I'll die on this hill. 🏔”

“my daughter rode her bus for two years. No disrespect but she needed to be let go back then. They have been several times you could sit on my porch and see first hand what was going on. She parked three houses down from my home fussing and yelling at the children for a good 30 minutes and my daughter was right at her home and was not allowed to get off the bus. I wished I was that day that made the first phone call. I do not know the person's or person in general that has posted. But I also video when this happened but, I didn't take and post it. I have video te speed she was using while driving. It got where I thought it was unsafe for my daughter to ride her bus so | started taking her and picking her up. Do I think it was all your mom absolutely not because children ply both side. Do I think she needs to be driving the bus from what I've seen and heard absolutely not. Do I think it should have been put on social media absolutely not. Im sorry for the loss of your daughter. But this matter needed to be handled 2 years prior to this.”

“She was my bus driver. She was not a good one. She was always so very rude and drove like a maniac. I remember my mom and other moms in my neighborhood going to the bus stop numerous times cause she would give us hell when getting off. Granted I do understand kids can be unruly and when you have as many kids as we had there are going to be problem kids. But you can't treat everyone the same in that aspect.”

“Sadly I had her as a bus driver. O patience. She blew up all the time. We had an incident with her back in 2014 where she jerked me and 2 others off the bus by the collars of our shirts.”

“She was my son’s bus driver last year and my husband & i both spoke with her several times. We called the school & the bus company. But nothing was ever done. So 1 believe every story that is being told about her. She did nothing but bully my son & all the other kids on the bus. She was always flying, running off the road, hit a truck mirror one day & kept going. A girl had a panic attack on the bus and passed out. She did nothing to help the girl the kids called 911. While she screamed at the kids to sit down & shut up. I was on the phone with my son.

Him & other kids have several videos from last year of how she acted & treated the kids daily. She should have never been driving a bus after being fired from other school districts.”