MANKATO, Minn. -
Disciplining kids is never an easy thing to do. Now imagine doing that while driving a bus filled with more kids.
Shane Johnson with Palmer bus services says, "We understand that kids are kids and sometimes they are going to misbehave and that's ok, we will just help try to correct that..."
The problem for bus drivers is that disciplining kids isn't their only responsibility. They also have to operate a vehicle that can run anywhere from 12 to 40 feet long, all the while making sure each student arrives to and from school safely.
Johnson says, "Every time they take their eyes off the road because a student or two is misbehaving, it really just increases the danger level a little bit."
Johnson says this isn't a new problem, but it is a persistent one.
Johnson says, "Year after year we have to go on the bus and just correct and re–correct behavior."
The Mankato district says it does have a protocol in place for drivers.
ISD 77 Superintendent Sheri Allen says, "They're responsible for 70 students roughly, and when students choose not to follow those rules and are doing something they shouldn't, that incident report happens, parents are notified in k–6 immediately with that."
So far this semester, 81 incident reports have been issued in the district. Ten of them were for students who didn't have bus passes, the other 71 could be anything thing from sticking arms out the window, to fighting or vandalism.
Depending on how many offenses a student racks up, they can lose their bus privileges.
Johnson says, "The goal isn't to get kids in trouble or to get kids off the bus, that is not what we are here for."
They're here to make sure your kids make it to school and back again...something they can't do alone.
Allen says, "Parents are always part of that communication and we just urge that parents continue to enforce the need to have good responsible behavior."
And the districts says they can't fix problems they don't know about, so if your child is having trouble on the bus, don't hesitate to contact the school.
