LaBrae probes the busing of pupils in transport van

The superintendent said the school district needs to hire more bus drivers.
LEAVITTSBURG -- LaBrae Schools Superintendent Ronald Joseph called the decision to bus pupils in a cargo van "a mistake," and he assured parents that it would never happen again.
"We're never going to use the van again," he said after the board met for three hours in executive session Monday night.
Joseph said the board is investigating the matter and will have another meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to decide if any action should be taken. The Ohio Department of Education is also waiting for the results of an investigation to determine what action, if any, will be taken against the school district.
The investigation surrounds four pupils' being transported in a cargo van rather than a bus Wednesday without secure seats. Three pupils attend Summit Academy and one attends John F. Kennedy High School, both in Warren.
Joseph said the pupils were taken to school in the van by a maintenance man because five or six bus drivers had called in sick. Joseph declined to say who gave the maintenance man the order to take the pupils to school.
"We're not going to go there," he said.
Lt. Gerry Thompson of the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Southington said the patrol doesn't issue citations in such cases because the ODE establishes school transportation regulations and is responsible for administrative action. Besides, Thompson added, the patrol didn't witness any violation.
ODE spokesman J.C. Benton explained that the state will decide if any action will be taken against LaBrae after the patrol completes its investigation. If anything is done, Benton said Monday, it could range from reviewing the district transportation plan to withholding public funds.
The school district will look into hiring more bus drivers and driver substitutes to make sure pupils have proper transportation, Joseph said.