SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Judgment Call

Twenty-five high school students attempt to board a school bus that they are not assigned to in what is later viewed as a prank by the school principa...

April 1, 2002
3 min to read


Twenty-five high school students attempt to board a school bus that they are not assigned to in what is later viewed as a prank by the school principal. The bus driver, unnerved by the incident, quits. Only three of the students are disciplined by the principal. How would you respond? Principal falls short My first response would be, why only three of the students? Shouldn’t all of the students be disciplined equally? Without knowing more of the situation, one would have to wonder: 1. What sort of prank would entail 25 students trying to board a bus that was not their assigned bus? 2. What sort of prank would so unnerve a driver that it would compel him to quit? 3. Was this the first time a prank like this had occurred? 4. Has the driver had a history of difficulties with that principal? Because drivers are increasingly exposed to physical danger, any behavior that would make them feel threatened should not be tolerated. Some years ago I had a student get on the bus with what I later found out to be a cap pistol. All I saw was he was pointing a gun at me. Since I knew his father had quite a collection of guns, I was stressed enough I almost messed my pants. The fact that it was only a cap pistol did not obviate the fact I felt extremely threatened. In a situation where a school employee or contract employee is threatened or feels threatened, if the school and building administrators don’t address the problem quickly, the problem will keep ratcheting up until someone does get hurt. In regard to the original scenario, I don’t think the principal’s response was adequate in light of the fact the driver quit his job. Mark Obtinario Owner, Cowlitz Coach Castle Rock, Wash. By the book on this one Administrative procedures adopted by our Board of Education include a statement that students will: “Ride only the buses to which they are assigned and normally get off at their regular bus stops.” As soon as a driver saw a problem like the one described, we would expect him to keep the bus door closed and immediately call our dispatch office and seek advice. I would notify an administrator at the school involved and the police department and ask for assistance. I would go to the scene. It should be noted that our school district provides a large security force and one or more school resource officers for each secondary school site. Maybe this incident was meant to be a “harmless” prank, but maybe it was a group of students wanting to get on a bus to “settle a score.” How would a driver know which it may have been? With the potential for a disruptive situation and our zero-tolerance policy toward violence, this conduct would likely be considered for suspension from school, if only on the basis of failing to follow the instruction of a school employee. Our school bus drivers deserve the same respect as any school district employee. John Farr Transportation Director Oceanside (Calif.) Unified S.D.

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

Technician using a laptop to diagnose and service a school bus engine, highlighting fleet maintenance technology and transportation operations.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 14, 2026

Paper Routes Get an Upgrade: Louisiana District Turns to New Service Model

Lafourche Parish Schools will implement First Student’s Fleet-as-a-Service model for 115 buses, shifting maintenance and operations on-site ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

Read More →
Graphic promoting “40 Ideas for Your Next In-Service Training,” featuring photos of school transportation training activities including wheelchair securement practice, a bus safety demonstration, and maintenance inspection beside a yellow school bus, with School Bus Fleet branding.
Managementby Amanda HuggettApril 13, 2026

In-Service Planning Made Easier: Tips for a Smooth Back-to-School Start

Snag your summer prep checklist for school transportation directors, plus 40 training topic ideas to bring to your team.

Read More →
a faded photo of school buses in the background with the samsara logo and IC Bus logo next to each other
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 10, 2026

IC Bus, Samsara Launch Pre-Delivery Telematics Installation Program

New IC Bus vehicles can now arrive with Samsara telematics factory-installed, helping fleets reduce downtime, streamline setup, and achieve day-one connectivity.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An image of a school bus driving on a road in Malibu with text reading "2026 Industry Honors in School Transportation."
Managementby StaffApril 10, 2026

School Transportation Companies Earn Top Honors in 2026

From tech advancements to standout workplace cultures, see which key players across the school transportation sector are earning national recognition.

Read More →
Managementby StaffApril 6, 2026

Enter Now: School Bus Fleet’s 2026 Photo of the Year Contest

We're looking for winner-worthy photos of the big yellow bus, so grab your cameras and start snapping your best shots. SBF’s Photo of the Year contest is open and accepting entries through May 31.

Read More →
An aerial view of school buses in a lot with the Transfinder logo and text reading "New District Installs Across the Nation."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsApril 2, 2026

Transfinder Expands Footprint with New District Adoptions Across U.S.

Districts nationwide are adopting Transfinder’s routing, tracking, and parent apps as the company also earns its ninth Best Companies to Work for in New York honor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Zonar Bus Suite app shown on smartphones with map tracking and language selection options, highlighting multilingual support for school transportation updates.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 2, 2026

Zonar Expands Parent App to Include 2 More Languages

The Bus Suite app is now supported in French and Spanish to aid in assisting families across diverse communities.

Read More →
The Blue Bird and Micro Bird logos with a plus sign in between against a blue background
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 2, 2026

Blue Bird Completes Acquisition of Micro Bird, Consolidates Operations

The Georgia-based OEM has acquired Girardin Group’s stake in the 50/50 Micro Bird joint venture, bringing the business fully under one brand, one team and one operating approach.

Read More →
A yellow graphic featuring a map of the United States with two location pins in the Midwest and Southeast regions. To the right is the Zum logo and text reading “Zum Enters 2 More Partnerships,” with the School Bus Fleet logo in the corner.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 1, 2026

Zum Adds 2 More District Partnerships

The transportation and software provider is now working with LEAD Public Schools in Tennessee and Rockford Public Schools in Illinois.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic titled “Cooperative Purchasing 101” from School Bus Fleet showing a team meeting around a table with a laptop, documents, and a toy school bus, promoting easier ways to buy buses and technology.
Managementby Amanda HuggettApril 1, 2026

Stop Reinventing the RFP: Why Cooperative Purchasing Works for School Transportation

Take the burden out of bidding. Cooperative contracts can save district transportation teams time, money, and hassle. Here’s how.

Read More →