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MICHAEL J. REICH Times Leader correspondent
Tuesday, January 25, 2000 Page: 7A
WEATHERLY – Parents of students from the Weatherly Area School District on
Monday presented a petition to the School Board’s transportation committee
asking that bus driver Vicki Cigler be removed from her route.
Parents, who identified themselves as Donna Hawk Eye and her husband,
Lunging Bear, accused Cigler of intentionally bringing the bus to abrupt stops
so children would be thrown from their seats, and of verbally abusing
students.
Hawk Eye also claimed her children have been left behind at the bus stop
several times. She also alleged that Cigler purposely humiliated a student who
had a rash on his chest by pulling down his shirt, pointing it out to other
students, and telling him he had bad parents.
Cigler, who drives for bus contractor Bob Evancho, denied trying to
humiliate or harm any children.
She did say she has left bus stops without waiting for children who are
habitually late. She said she refuses to wait longer because she doesn’t want
other children to miss the start of class.
Cigler, of Foster Township, also said some students on her route are
troublemakers on the bus. There have been instances in which, in accordance
with school district safety policies, Cigler pulled the bus to the side of the
road because of rowdiness, she said.
Although Hawk Eye and Lunging Bear presented the committee with a petition
signed by 30 parents, only about eight parents attended the meeting.
The committee also received 15 separate written complaints from other
parents whose children ride on Cigler’s route.
Committee member Ben Bird suggested placing a tape recorder on the bus to
document any problems.
Evancho said a video camera recently has been installed on the bus driven
by Cigler. He also said Cigler has driven the route in question only one day
in the last two weeks and will have a new route until the matter is resolved.
The committee plans to discuss what action, if any, should be taken, then
make a recommendations to the full School Board at its next meeting on
February 14.
Call Reich at 829-7142.