June 16, 2022

Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members:

I am writing to clear up some misinformation about a bus incident that occurred on Monday, June 13, 2022.

During afternoon dismissal as the buses were leaving the parking lot at the St. Regis Mohawk School, a bus stopped at the parking lot exit. The driver of a second bus did not initially notice the first bus was stopped, and then veered to avoid hitting the first bus, abruptly applying the brakes in the process. The mirror of the second bus scraped the first bus, causing minor damage.

Some students had minor injuries as a result of the bus stopping quickly. Unfortunately, the driver did not notify the school about the incident and continued on the route to transport students home. When the bus garage received notification of the incident later in the evening, district administration was immediately notified, and appropriate protocols were implemented. All families of the students involved were contacted by the school nurse following an assessment on Tuesday morning.

Please know that student safety is our top priority, and we take incidents such as this seriously. Bus drivers undergo required training each year. We are also reviewing our district protocols. Please understand that because this is a personnel issue, we cannot discuss the status of the bus driver.

If you have questions or concerns about this incident, please reach out to my office.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stanley Harper
Superintendent of Schools

You may also download a PDF version of Dr. Harper’s letter.