Tennessee School Bus Driver Recorded Using Phone Behind the Wheel Resigns

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. — A school bus driver here resigned on Monday after she was captured on video using her cell phone while driving a school bus last week, district officials said.

Jim Bellis, the communications coordinator for Robertson County Schools, told WSMV that the driver, who has not been identified, resigned after the district became aware of the video and placed her on suspension. The driver was recorded by a student as she was using her cell phone behind the wheel on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the news source. She was suspended from the district on Thursday.

Robertson County Schools said in a statement, obtained by WSMV, that the district's transportation office was notified about the incident after the district received a phone call reporting that one of its bus drivers was using a cell phone while operating a school bus. The district added that the transportation office contacted the bus driver, who was then instructed to report to the office for review of onboard video surveillance footage. The bus was onsite and no students were on board at the time the driver reported to the office.

A parent, who did not want to be identified, told the news source that her child took the videos of the driver on both days, and that it was “unacceptable” for the driver to text and drive in front of the students. She also said that parents “should have assurance that when our kids leave in the morning that the bus driver is taking care of our students.”