CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A state trooper is now weighing in on a story KRIS 6 News ran Monday in which CCISD parents are concerned about bis overcrowding. In video we aired Monday, a child apparently is riding on a school-bus floor -- in the aisle.
Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Nathan Brandley made it clear that a situation like what that video appears to show should never happen.
We've slowed it down and blurred the student's face, but it looks like he's sitting up against another child's legs in the aisle of the bus.
“Kids are not allowed to sit on the floor of bus – period," said Brandley, who is based in Corpus Christi.
He went on to say that bus drivers won't start driving until everyone is sitting down -- in a seat.
Brandley thinks the student, in this case, likely moved to the floor after the driver drove off.
Parents say one of the schools receiving overcrowded buses is the Baker Middle School.
Principal John Dobbins says he personally makes sure the buses leaving his campus at the end of the school day are appropriately filled.
"I did see the video myself,” Dobbins said. “We are going to double-check to make sure that doesn't happen. That's not appropriate. We don't sit students in aisles, and if there are students sitting in aisles we do need to have them take a seat or I'll actually not let the bus go, and we'll ask for another bus."
CCISD says that's its school policy.
When a bus reaches capacity, the driver calls the dispatch center, and they send another bus to pick up any additional students.
KRIS 6 News was told the bus with the child sitting on the floor was headed to Browne Middle School and then to Carroll High School.
