French Island mother concerned over how complaints of bus driver have been handled

A French Island mother is upset with a school bus driver’s actions and behavior toward her autistic son.

Among the allegations from the mother are how the driver has complained about the long drive she has to pick up the boy. The driver also apparently refused to let her son on the bus.

The last, as told by Felicity Baldwin, the mother of Northside Elementary student Tuthais (pictured above): “He decided he was going to jump off the bottom step of the bus,” Baldwin said. “He ended up falling to his butt. And this (bus driver) speeds off with her door still open and my son still on the ground.”

Those are just some of the allegations from Baldwin against the GO Riteway bus driver. She also said the company told her that the allegations were captured on video.

Baldwin added that GO Riteway initially told her the driver was fired, but apparently that’s not true. The driver has apparently just reassigned to another route.

Baldwin says the bus company should do more.

“If one of my kids acted up on the bus or if they’re rude or they hurt somebody or attempt to hurt somebody, they would get kicked off the bus,” Baldwin said. “Why would a bus company want a driver like that to represent them and to put the kids that they’re trying to protect in danger?”

Baldwin also says the woman has been condescending to her son.

GO Riteway is contracted out by the La Crosse School District.

In a statement, the company said: “GO Riteway is investigating the concern made by a parent and has been in direct communication with the family. Student safety is always the number one priority of GO Riteway and the School District of La Crosse.”