TCSS Investigating After Student Left On Special Needs Bus

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County School System (TCSS) Superintendent Daniel Bray confirmed Thursday that the district is investigating an incident involving a Matthews Elementary School student who was left on a special needs school bus for several hours on Wednesday.

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In a message to parents Thursday afternoon, Bray said the child remained on the bus after it completed its morning drop-off at the school and the bus was later parked at another campus, where school personnel discovered the student still inside.

Once found, the child’s parent was notified immediately and the student was evaluated by the school nurse before being reunited with family at the school.

TCSS says a district administrator followed up with the family later in the day to check on the child’s well-being.

Bray called the situation “concerning and upsetting,” emphasizing that student safety remains the district’s highest priority.

“Our families entrust our schools with their most precious resource — their children,” Bray said. “We take this situation extremely seriously and are conducting a full investigation into what happened.”

The superintendent said the system’s transportation protocols require bus drivers to perform mandatory checks at the end of each route to ensure no students remain onboard, along with pointing out that bus drivers must also undergo annual re-certification and safety training.

TCSS is now reviewing whether all required procedures were followed on Wednesday.

Bray said the bus driver involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Because the bus was a special needs route, an aide was also assigned.

Bray said the aide on duty Wednesday was a substitute and “will no longer be serving in this capacity.”

He also said the district will fully review its transportation procedures and implement any additional safeguards needed to prevent a similar situation in the future.

“The safety of our students is our number one priority,” he said.

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