EVERETT, Wash. – Durham Transportation is investigating incidents that reportedly involve one of its school bus drivers and dozens of Emerson Elementary school students. The students claim it started earlier this week when the driver refused to open windows on a hot day.
Parent Jill Biddle first heard about it on Monday.
“My daughter had told me that some of the kids were being silly, and the original bus driver had said, ‘if you don't calm down I am not going to have the windows shut in the Summer time,”said Biddle.
Biddle says what she took as an empty threat turned out to be a real punishment the very next day. That’s when the driver allegedly kept the windows shut while temperatures where in the mid-70s.
One student reportedly passed out from the heat on Tuesday, according to Everett Public Schools spokesperson Mary Waggoner.
“Were they safe, were they mistreated, and if so, what action is Durham going to take as a result of that,” asked Waggoner.
The school district expects to learn more about Durham’s investigation on Friday. For now, the bus driver is off the route and on administrative leave.
“She should never ever be driving a bus again,” said Biddle.
“Who could put kids life at risk like that,” added Biddle’s sister, Kristyn Carter.
On Wednesday, the Durham safety and training supervisor drove the bus and lowered the windows. It was another hot day, and during the route two more students became ill. Paramedics treated them and the students did not have to go to the hospital. They were released to their parents.
