2 arrested after special-needs student left on school bus
A bus driver and aide for the School District of Palm Beach County (Fla.) have been charged with child neglect for leaving a student on a school bus for more than five hours.
BOCA RATON, Fla. — A school bus driver and an aide were arrested in connection with a special-needs student recently being left on a bus for more than five hours, WPBF reports.
Robert Avossa, the superintendent of the School District of Palm Beach County, announced that the bus driver, Claudette Sylvain, and the bus aide, Carmen Zow, have been charged with child neglect, according to the news source.
The student was picked up at school, and Sylvain dropped off the bus at the depot when she finished the route. According to a report, the student was left unattended on the bus for about five hours and 22 minutes before a mechanic found him, according to WPBF.
Sylvain, who was hired at the beginning of the year, was fired immediately. Zow has worked for the district for nine years, the news source reports.
Avossa told WPBF that he didn’t know how both adults could have forgotten that the child was on the bus, and that the reason the district puts two adults on the bus is to ensure the students are safe.
To read the full story, go here.
More Special Needs Transportation

What More Than Two Million Rides Reveal About School Transit
More than two million student trips. Nearly 28million miles. Here's what that data reveals about the future of alternative student transportation.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Launches New Safety, Driver Consistency Features for 2026-27 School Year
The company’s free ride recording, live ride tracking, and consistent driver assignments aim to improve safety and continuity for diverse student transportation needs.
Read More →
The Most Common Wheelchair Securement Mistakes on School Buses (and How to Fix Them)
Small missteps in wheelchair securement can have serious consequences. Here are 32 tips from experts to reduce risk and increase student safety on the bus.
Read More →
Inside AMF Bruns’ New Showroom: School Bus Securement Solutions Explained
Go inside AMF Bruns America’s new Ohio showroom with Maritza Valentin to see its FutureSafe technology, driver training tools, securement systems, and seating innovations.
Read More →What AMF Bruns’ New Facility Means for Customers [Video]
Inside AMF Bruns’ new Stow, Ohio, operations: See how expanded space and innovation will enhance customer support and operations.
Read More →
AMF Bruns Expands in Ohio, Investing in Growth and Community
With expanded production space, local investment, and a growing workforce, AMF Bruns is scaling its U.S. presence. Here’s an exclusive first look inside the new Stow, Ohio, HQ.
Read More →
Inside AMF Bruns of America’s New Ohio Manufacturing Facility [Photos]
Take a behind-the-scenes look at AMF Bruns of America’s new 41,000-square-foot Stow, Ohio, headquarters, featuring advanced manufacturing, expanded space, and future-ready mobility solutions.
Read More →
First Student Boosts Student Support in Wichita & Texas
First Student and Wichita Public Schools are using behavioral support strategies to improve student ride experiences, while a separate initiative expands access to after-school programs through a bus donation.
Read More →2026 Special-Needs Transportation Survey
What’s changing in special-needs transportation? This year, student transportation operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and evolving challenges. Sponsored by AMF Bruns of America.
Read More →The Lived-Experience Gap in Mobility Tech: An Expert Take on Safe Student Transportation
Brianna Pauwee, a product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user, drops in to The Route to share practical securement and training insights, plus the story behind the new “Beyond Mobility” podcast. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →

