A letter from BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper to employees says a physical altercation took place on a Boston Public Schools bus earlier this week, d
A letter from BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper to employees says a physical altercation took place on a Boston Public Schools bus earlier this week, during which a bus driver “was assaulted by an adult while completing their route.”
Tuesday afternoon was when the incident happened on a Taylor School bus, and after the incident, school administrators said they were “outraged and disappointed.”
The Mattapan, Massachusetts, Taylor School was the scene of a physical fight involving a bus driver, according to the Boston Police Department, which did not provide any additional information.
The Boston Police Department confirmed that it responded to the Taylor School in Mattapan for a physical altercation that involved a bus driver, but did not provide additional specifics.
In a letter to drivers, Skipper stated, “As many of you know, one of our colleagues was assaulted by an adult while completing their route. I am sure many of you felt the same way I am feeling right now – outraged and disappointed. I know this may also cause a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for many of you too.”
Taylor School Principal Jennifer Marks wrote in a letter to parents that “a parent was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with the bus driver on afternoon school bus B541,” which prompted an immediate alert from school staff, a response from BPD, and a visit from a BPS Transportation Road Safety Supervisor. To transport the pupils home, a replacement bus driver was dispatched.
Law enforcement may take disciplinary action, Marks said.
“I want to be very clear, violence of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Skipper noted in her letter. “We will ensure our colleague has the support he needs while he recovers. We are also working with BPS Safety Services and the Boston Police to ensure safety on all our school buses and accountability for anyone who engages in inappropriate behaviors towards BPS staff.”
Students who may have seen the event take place are being helped by the district’s trauma response team. The city’s Employee Assistance Program also provided assistance to its workers.
A representative for Boston Public Schools said the following:
“We cannot reiterate enough our belief that violence of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Boston Public Schools or on our school buses. BPS is working with BPS Safety Services and Boston Police to ensure all staff and students are safe on our buses. Our bus drivers work incredibly hard every day to ensure that students are safely transported to and from school. It is essential that we have community support to keep our students and staff safe. We will continue working with Transdev and USW Local 8751 to provide ongoing support to the driver. Boston Public Schools will also cooperate with any investigation into this incident.“
An investigation is still being conducted.
