Leaving Children on School Buses: Not Acceptable

Association Offers Statement

ALBANY, NY (06/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Today's news (06/13/12) carried another story about a small child being left alone on a school bus parked in the garage for over an hour. This is not the first such instance in our state this school year but it needs to be the last one.

It's the end of the school year and there have been numerous incidents including drivers leaving children on school buses and allegations of mistreatment special needs students on school buses.

NYAPT wants to be clear in our belief that every child should get to school and home again every day safely...with no exceptions. We understand that leaving children on school buses carries a special stigma because every parent can identify with the thought of their little child being alone on a bus and afraid.

NYAPT President, David Christopher, said that "we need to remind our drivers of how important it is to check their buses each and every time they shut it down. There is no excuse for leaving children on school buses. None. We proclaim the safety of our school buses and these kinds of incidents just erode the trust of our children and their families."

NYAPT Executive Director, Peter Mannella, also noted that "we train drivers to check the school bus and to ensure that all the children have gotten off---but the drivers themselves need to make this happen and make this right. School bus drivers perform an amazing task for our children. But the job is not finished till every child is safely where they are supposed to be."

Christopher continued: "We will urge our members to double down on their efforts to train and remind drivers of the importance of that last step before they shut their buses down: check for children. No Child should be left behind on a school bus...No child."

Mannella added: "NYAPT extends a message of concern and support to those children, and their families, who have had to deal with being left alone on a school bus and we will take special efforts in the coming school year to reinforce the urgency of consistently and diligently inspecting the bus for children on every route."

As professionals dedicated to the safety of the 2.3 million children who ride yellow school buses, we want to remind the public that we take this work and their trust seriously. That is why these incidents -- however infrequent -- give us pause for concern when they do happen. To be silent would be wrong. Our children are entitled to know that we work hard to keep each of them safe and that we succeed in that every day. In this specific matter, we know we must do better, and we will.