An investigation is underway into complaints about a school bus ride in Jackson County on Thursday afternoon.
Some Jackson Northwest parents took to social media, saying a bus driver had intentionally forced students to roll up the windows and drove around for an extra hour on a hot bus to 'punish' children for misbehavior.
Dean Transportation, which contracts for bus services at Northwest Schools, confirmed their is an investigation into the incident. The substitute bus driver has been placed on paid leave. Company representative Patrick Dean says they have interviewed parents and reviewed surveillance video from inside the bus.
Dean says the driver never left his route, and all of the windows were never rolled up. The driver had asked students to roll up their windows due to concern they were sticking their arms out of the bus, Dean says.
Dean also says the driver had to pull over to talk with students about their behavior multiple times, which caused the bus to be late on it's route.
Dean Transportation is working with the district on the investigation.
Alani Letang will have interviews with concerned parents on FOX 47 at 10 PM.
