Columbia Public Schools were notified Friday, March 14 and began investigating an incident where a bus driver hit a Shepard Boulevard Elementary School student inside the bus.
As soon as Shepard Boulevard Elementary School heard about the incident, the principal began reviewing surveillance tapes capturing the incident inside the bus. Columbia Public Schools spokesperson, Michelle Baumstark, says, it was at this point that the principal felt it was necessary to notify Columbia police.
“As a result, the individual involved was arrested by Columbia police and we requested through first student that the employee be dismissed,” Baumstark says.
All bus drivers are hired through the bus company, First Student. First Student issued a written statement saying it will conduct a full internal review and assist police in the investigation. The driver has been pulled from service until the outcome is determined.