Two Iowa school bus drivers recently were fired after school officials said they were drag racing with each other while students were on both buses.
According to a local report, one of the drivers was fired this week and the other was let go immediately.
School officials said the drivers began their race after students from Pine View School in Iowa Falls were returning from a Valentine’s Day field trip. One of the drivers decided to drag race the other and, at first, the students on board were cheering on the driver. They were shouting “yes,” “yes,” said one student, but shortly after they were shouting “no,” “no” because the race turned scary for them.
T.J. Norman, school board president of the Iowa Falls Community School District, said he didn’t know the length of time both drivers were drag racing, but “long enough that children were fearful.”
“Just when you think you’ve heard it all, something like this happens,” said Max Christensen, Iowa state director of student transportation and president of NASDPTS. “It’s most unfortunate that we do have a few school bus drivers out there that do not seem to understand the importance of the precious cargo they are entrusted to transport and to care for.”
He added that he commends the school district for dealing quickly and forcefully with the situation. “Hopefully it will serve as a wakeup call to all school bus drivers in regards to what their jobs are about.”
