Parents Fight To Reinstate School Bus Driver Fired After Kitten Rescue, but District Cites 'Multiple Incidents'

Parents in Maryland are rallying behind school bus driver Cynthia Morgan after she was removed from her route following an incident in which she allowed a 10-year-old pupil to retrieve an injured kitten from the roadside. Morgan, 67, had driven for Harford County Public Schools for 11 years.

The incident happened on Heaps School Road in Pylesville, where the pupil, identified as Alex Thomas, was the only child on the bus, according to reports. He held the kitten until reaching North Harford Elementary School. The dispute has since grown beyond the kitten rescue. A district letter cited 'multiple incidents' involving Morgan, including concerns about inappropriate interactions with pupils, while a petition calling for her reinstatement has attracted thousands of signatures.

Driver Removed After Kitten Rescue

Morgan told CBS News Baltimore that she was devastated by the decision. According to the report, she had told Alex to retrieve the kitten, which remained with him until he arrived at school. Morgan then kept the animal on her lap for the remainder of her route.

A parent, Carolyn Kalambihis, said footage showed little traffic on the rural road. She acknowledged that allowing a child to leave the bus was a safety mistake but argued that Morgan would not have done so on a busier road.

'It's definitely a concern for safety. There is no question that it was a mistake,' Kalambihis said. Another parent, Taffy Thomas, said she was '100 per cent behind' Morgan and believed her son would have been devastated if the kitten had been left behind.

District Cites 'Multiple Incidents'

The case took a more complicated turn after Morgan shared a 5 October letter from Harford County Public Schools Transportation Director Danielle Bedsaul to Cleary Transportation, the contractor employing Morgan. The letter cited 'multiple incidents' involving Morgan and referred to 'concerns regarding inappropriate interactions with students'. It also raised the issue of Morgan driving with the kitten on her lap after the pupil had been dropped at school.

Morgan defended her actions during a meeting with district officials, saying she had not put the pupil at risk. The district has not publicly detailed the other incidents referenced in the letter.

Harford County Public Schools said Morgan is employed by an independent contractor, rather than directly by the district, but the school system is responsible for certifying drivers who transport its pupils. 'Certification and decertification are not always based on a single factor but often involve consideration of multiple circumstances and requirements,' the district said. 'Student safety remains our top priority.'

Parents Launch Petition for Morgan

A Change.org petition started by Julie Long on 5 October calls for Morgan's reinstatement at North Harford Elementary School. As of 12 October, it had attracted nearly 7,000 verified signatures, according to Change.org. Long described Morgan as a caring and familiar presence for pupils.

'Over the years, Cynthia has become more than just a bus driver to our children; she is someone they look forward to seeing every morning and afternoon,' Long wrote. 'Her kind and warm nature makes the pupils feel safe and comfortable.'

Kalambihis also called the decision excessive. 'We just feel the way that it was handled was not appropriate,' she said. 'We feel that termination was a little excessive, an overreaction by the Department of Transportation through HCPS.'

Kalambihis praised Morgan for regularly buying school supplies, Christmas gifts and birthday cards for pupils at her own expense. 'She is an angel. She is the most caring person,' she said.

No decision to reinstate Morgan had been announced by the district or contractor at the time of publication.