OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – When there weren’t enough seats on the school bus for University High School Academy students, some had to sit on the floor while returning to campus from a school field trip.
“We’re going to make sure it never happens again,” said Southfield Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. Lanissa L. Freeman.
On Tuesday (Dec. 12), Southfield Public Schools said about 150 students went to see a private screening of The Color Purple at a Madison Heights movie theater.
There were no issues on the way there. But on the way back, one of the buses that came to pick them up had limited seating, and the decision was made to make some students sit on the floor for the 13-mile trip from the theater to the school.
“We are grateful that no one was injured,” Freeman said. “We have a third-party vendor that provides our transportation services, and once we heard about it, we launched a comprehensive investigation.”
The third-party vendor for district busing is First Student.
On its website, the company describes itself as “The leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, helping school districts achieve their missions by providing the best start and finish to every school day.”
But that’s not what happened on Tuesday’s school field trip.
First Student said in a statement, “At First Student, we take our responsibility to provide a safe environment on our school buses very seriously. We understand the concern this incident has caused and are conducting a thorough internal review of what happened. While we do, the driver has been removed from service.”
Freeman said there were teachers and chaperones on the field trip. It’s unclear why none of the adults stopped it before the bus drove away.
“That’s all part of the investigation, and once we have completed the investigation, we will definitely be reviewing our procedures or policies and making sure that everyone understands our safety standards,” Freeman said.
Southfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Green issued a statement on the incident.
“Dear Southfield Public Schools Families,
Southfield Public Schools is currently investigating an incident involving students who were transported on a bus without seats during a recent field trip. We are deeply concerned about this occurrence, and we want to assure our community that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority.
The administration became aware of the situation only upon the return of the students to the school, prompting an immediate investigation into how this lapse in transportation safety occurred. We are working diligently to ascertain the circumstances that led to students sitting on the floor of the bus.
This unprecedented incident is contrary to the standards and practices upheld by Southfield Public Schools. Field trips are intended to be enriching experiences, providing students with valuable opportunities for learning and growth. We are committed to ensuring that such incidents never happen again.
We understand the concerns of our parents, guardians, and the community, and we want to assure everyone that a comprehensive investigation is underway. No decisions will be made until the investigation is complete and we have a clear understanding of the facts surrounding the incident. Once the investigation is complete, all appropriate parties will be held accountable.
Southfield Public Schools remains steadfast in its commitment to providing a safe and enriching learning environment for all students. We appreciate the community’s understanding as we work to address and rectify this situation promptly.”
Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Green