LINCOLN CO., Mo. - The Lincoln County R-III School District is investigating after a viral video showed a bus driver berating a student, blowing a whistle in his face, and screaming at him.
"I would be furious, for real. I would be extremely furious if that was my child," said Brandy Coke, a parent.
"You think it's funny, get up front," the driver shouts in the video. "Get up there!"
"If he can't handle little kids, he shouldn't be a bus driver. I mean I wouldn't be a bus driver," said Sue Gable, a grandparent who takes her grandson to and from school.
Parents tell 5 On Your Side, the driver did not just pull over on any old street with a sidewalk, he pulled over on a two-lane highway.
"Where he particularly stopped was on a bridge on [Highway] 47 and stopped and proceeded to yell and scream and blow a whistle in the child's face," said Nikki Stelzer, a parent.
Stelzer said her son was one of the children on this bus.
"He was sitting in the seat right in front of the child who was[sic] recording."
She said she's had issues with this very same driver.
"I called the school a few times over the course of the last two years to let them know what's taken place, and nothing's been done up until this video went viral," Stelzer said.
Margaret James once drove a school bus just like this one.
"It's far from being an easy job," she said.
She said while the driver was out of line, the problem doesn't start or stop on the bus.
"If one parent gets on the bus and can witness how hard it is, they might step up to the plate a little bit faster and make sure that their kids are gonna behave on the bus," she said.
She said in the end, two adults on the bus would be much better than one.
The Lincoln County R-III School District sent this statement about the incident:
District administration is disheartened by the event that took place yesterday afternoon on one of our buses. This is a very serious situation and the District does expect all employees to serve as positive role models for our students. As it is a personnel situation, details can not be discussed at this time. However, in accordance with board policy an investigation is being conducted and appropriate action will be taken.