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Metropolitan Transportation Network

Friday, November 9, 2012

Bus Driver Fired After Asking ISD 281 Student to Pick Up Gun

A Metropolitan Transportation Network bus driver was fired after asking a Robbinsdale Middle School student to bring a gun onto the bus.

A Metropolitan Transportation Network bus driver has been fired after stopping at an intersection and asking a seventh-grade Robbinsdale Middle School student to pick up a gun and bring it on the bus. The incident occurred on Nov. 8 around 8 a.m. The district immediately took action after the driver notified school employees about the weapon. Fridley Patch reported that Metropolitan Transportation Network owner Tashitaa Tufaa said the driver ignored "very huge signs" inside the bus that prohibit drivers from stopping alongside the road to pick up items. "Even if they see a $20 bill, they cannot pick it up," Tufaa said. "They are supposed to call their supervisor immediately." Instead of calling a supervisor, the bus driver continued on the…

Thursday, November 8, 2012

District 281 Bus Driver Asks Student to Pick Up Gun

A Robbinsdale Area Schools spokesperson said a bus driver asked a seventh-grade boy to pick up a gun he spotted along the road. The district is shocked by the incident and has communicated with parents and students.

At 8 a.m. Thursday, a Metropolitan Transportation Network bus driver stopped at a Minneapolis intersection and asked a seventh-grade Robbinsdale Middle School student to pick up a gun and bring it on the bus, according to Robbinsdale Area Schools spokesperson Tia Clasen. Robbinsdale Area Schools uses First Student to transport the majority of its students, but the district contracts with Metropolitan Transportation Network for some smaller bus routes, Clasen said. When the driver asked the student to retrieve the gun at the intersection of 25th Avenue North and Irving Avenue North, the student exited the bus, picked up the gun, and gave it to the bus driver, Clasen said. After the student brought him the gun, the bus driver continued …

William Johnson

8:48 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

I would hope most people would know the proper thing to do would have been to get off the bus with the kids safely inside, call 911 and wait for police to get there. Once it is known a gun is at a bus stop, it would most likely be a 2-3 minute wait. Although this driver lacked some common sense, he clearly had good intentions. A suspension with some child safety/endangerment education would solve…   more ›

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