After scare on South Ave., bus trips to be reassessed

No bullet was found, and it looks as though the window was broken by a metal nut.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Even though reports of a Liberty school bus's being hit by a bullet in Youngstown might be wrong, Schools Superintendent Larry Prince said school officials likely will re-evaluate where the buses take students and how they get there.
The Liberty Lady Leopards varsity and junior varsity basketball teams bus was traveling along South Avenue about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday when someone is believed to have shot one of its windows. Although a girl sat in the seat next to the window, no one was hurt.
The shot left a hole about 1.5 inches in diameter and sent broken glass across to the other side of the bus, according to Larry Long, an assistant coach with the team.
Prince said, in light of the incident, the transportation supervisor will take a comprehensive look at current bus routes and how those routes can be changed. He said school officials will look not only at the most direct routes, but also take into consideration what routes are best lighted and most traveled and how more freeways can be used.
Prince also said officials will look more closely at where the students play. As an example, he said, the team was returning from a scrimmage against the Cardinal Mooney Lady Cardinals when the incident happened -- a team not on the regular schedule.
Prince said any changes made to bus routes would be done as needed. He said those changes will also be continually modified as school officials assess the changes and progress.
Haven't found bullet
According to Prince, school officials are still looking into the matter but have found not a bullet inside the bus. He said officials have found only a small fastening nut in the seat near the broken window.
"The immediate assessment was that this was a shooting, but that may not be the case," he said. "We did not find a slug in the bus; however, we did find a nut in the seat behind the damaged window. That does not make this any less serious in terms of possible injury."
Prince said he is not sure if officials will ever know exactly what broke the window.
School officials did make a counselor available to the students who were on the bus, but Prince was unsure if any had seen the counselor. He said all the students are doing fine.
jgoodwin@vindy.com