MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — Video of a school bus carrying Mount Pleasant Area School District students through flood waters elicited a stern response from the district’s superintendent and resulted in the driver's suspension.
Channel 11 News sent the video to Mount Pleasant Area School District Superintendent Dr. Timothy M. Gabauer, who had not heard or seen the footage. He issued the following response after viewing it:
Shannon Ahlborn said the video was taken Wednesday during her children’s ride home from Mount Pleasant Jr/Sr. High School. She called the driver’s actions unacceptable.
“The water was gushing over the guardrails,” she said. “He should've never went through there. That's safety for the kids. He jeopardized all them kids on the bus.”
Ahlborn said Acme Dam Road in Acme flood so often that there is a sign warning drivers.
“He should've known better. He's an adult. He's responsible for those children,” she said.
First Student, which owns the bus company, said the driver is now suspended without pay.
A spokesperson for the bus company said they have not had any other complaints about the bus driver in the two years that he’s worked for them. The driver will undergo retraining after the suspension, the spokesperson added.