District addresses mysterious school bus incident in letter to Moncton parents

Mia Urquhart 2025 · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 10, 2025 11:07 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

After 2 weeks, parents person yet received much accusation from the Anglophone East School District astir what happened to their children connected a schoolhouse autobus connected March 27. 

Superintendent Randolph MacLean said it began with a misbehaving radical of 7 students. 

"Despite the driver's champion efforts to negociate the concern done verbal reminders and redirection, the behaviour had not improved," MacLean explained successful a missive sent to parents connected Wednesday. 

"The operator past made the determination to support the radical connected the bus, decorativeness the regular way with the different students and instrumentality to the archetypal halt with the intent of speaking straight with caregivers of the group, waiting."

He said the students were kept connected the autobus for astir 19 other minutes, portion the operator finished his route.

In those minutes, immoderate parents were near waiting astatine the autobus stop, unsure wherefore their children were not allowed to get disconnected oregon wherefore the autobus drove distant with them. 

Chris Roberts was astatine the halt to conscionable his five-year-old son. He said his bosom "pounded retired of my chest" with the uncertainty of the full thing.

Kenny Caron was besides astatine the autobus halt erstwhile his 10-year-old lad was yet returned. He said helium was panicking due to the fact that helium didn't cognize if the operator was "having a intelligence breakdown oregon what is going on."

Caron's woman Gylian said they are contented with the superintendent's letter, though the Carons had hoped for speedier communications from the district.

'Safe astatine each time'

In his letter, a transcript of which was obtained by CBC News, MacLean said the students "were harmless astatine each times," but helium did admit that the driver's actions "did not align with our established protocols and whitethorn person contributed to interest and uncertainty. What was intended arsenic a supportive and corrective enactment escalated negatively, and I regret that I did not pass with you sooner."

After the incident, Anglophone East did not respond to questions from CBC News.

MacLean said successful his missive that the territory has conducted a thorough investigation, "including a reappraisal of the autobus video footage and a gathering with the driver."

"It was determined that portion the operator was faced with challenging pupil behaviour — creating an unsafe situation for each of students connected the autobus — the effect taken was not successful accordance with established operating procedure."

MacLean besides said the territory has taken the pursuing steps to forestall the incidental from happening again:

• A proscription supervisor has been assigned to travel the operator connected the day way for a play of clip to supply further support. 
• A revised seating program has been enactment successful spot to amended supervision and trim distractions.
• Behaviour concerns volition beryllium addressed done school-level disciplinary procedures.
• A camera volition stay connected the route.

MacLean said each drivers person been reminded of however to decently woody with behavioural issues. 

"I admit that our regular connection protocol was not followed successful a timely mode pursuing this incident," helium wrote. "I apologize that a broader connection was not shared with each impacted families sooner. I americium committed to improving my connection practices successful the future."

MacLean did not respond to an interrogation petition from CBC.