School bus seats slashed at North Carolina district

Nearly 400 seats were cut on 17 school buses, causing about $50,000 of damage. Seats on only one of the buses could be temporarily repaired for the morning route, and the other 16 buses were replaced by spares.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

September 17, 2015

1 min to read

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Every seat on 17 school buses in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools parking lot was slashed over last weekend, Winston-Salem Journal reports.

Bus drivers discovered the vandalism when they returned to their buses on Monday morning, according to the newspaper. Employees found seats slashed on all the buses that were parked along the back row in the lot.

The lot was locked, but it appeared that the vandal or vandals climbed a tree and stepped onto the barbed wire-topped fence surrounding the lot, Darrell Taylor, the transportation director for the district, told Winston-Salem Journal. Most of the buses are equipped with cameras, so district officials are checking whether the incident was recorded.

The damage to the buses was estimated to be nearly $50,000, with almost 400 seats having been damaged, Taylor told the newspaper. He added that some of the seats and seat foam were so torn that they would need to be replaced. He also said that one of the buses’ seats was temporarily repaired with duct tape and used for the morning route, and the other 16 buses were replaced by substitute buses.

To read the full story, go here.

Topics:North Carolina seating vandalism Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.