ORLANDO, Fla. — A school bus monitor was caught on cell phone arguing with a student and sticking up her middle finger; now parents are calling for Volusia County School officials to step in.
Some families in the neighborhood gave WKMG cellphone video that they say shows a bus aide acting out of line. Now, they hope something will be done, because they say this is not how an adult should act.
“Who do you think you are?” the bus aide says.
A bus aide arguing with a student then sticking up her middle finger.
“My mind was just wow. Am I really seeing this right now?” says 15-year-old Ryan, who recorded the video.
This is cell phone video from Friday that has some Spruce Creek High School parents and students concerned.
“She has definitely had an attitude before. This is not a first offense,” says Ryan.
Ryan, 15, who did not want to show his face, says the student suffers from a medical condition and needed to eat, which is not allowed on the bus.
“Apparently, he had a doctor’s note that he was supposed to be eating the chips on the bus,” says Ryan.
In the video, the boy argues with the bus aide, who then threatens to write him up.
“Write me up, my name is Patrick,” the boy says.
“You don’t like it. I don’t give a doo-doo what your name is,” says the bus aide.
Ryan says off camera, the bus aide got physical by wrestling the bag of chips away from the student. But you do see the bus driver stepping in to say they’re being recorded.
“They’re going to pull the tape. It’s going to be there,” says the bus driver.
“Alright. I’ll wave to the camera,” says the student.
He makes one last comment.
“I asked if you wanted one, but you can’t have the whole bag,” says the boy.
And that’s when video captures this: the bus monitor giving the finger.
“Yes, it was a smart-aleck response but I don’t think there’s any excuse for her giving the middle finger and being physical with him,” says Ryan.
WKMG tried talking to the bus driver and his aide, but the door quickly closed and the bus took off.
“Students, we can really do anything about this because it’s their word versus ours, but now I have video evidence,” says Ryan. “I find that they should be held to the same standards as we are. If anything, higher.”
WKMG called Volusia County School District who said it’s already aware of this video and notified the transportation department. The district says it can’t comment because they are currently investigating and interviewing everyone on the bus to see if any disciplinary actions need to be taken.