New Ken-Arnold student left on W.L. Roenigk bus, 2nd pupil in 10 days

A New Kensington-Arnold School District special needs student was left alone on a W.L. Roenigk school bus at the Clairview School in Greensburg on Friday, school and bus company officials said.

The driver was immediately fired, a Roenigk official said.

It was the second time in 10 days that a Roenigk bus driver was fired for leaving a student in the wrong place.

District Superintendent John Pallone said Friday’s incident lasted only “minutes” but said the case was referred to the state’s Childline for further investigation.

He was unhappy with the incident and talked with Roenigk officials about it.

“When someone fails to do their job properly, the district expects that there will be consequences, and in a matter like this, it should be severe,” Pallone said.

The Clairview School, along Donohoe Road near Greensburg, is for children and young adults with special needs.

The students name, age and gender were not released as to not identify the student, Pallone said.

W.L. Roenigk district manager Tom McCracken told the Tribune-Review that the driver of a small bus or van involved didn’t follow procedures.

McCracken said the woman was fired.

“She had worked for the company for quite some time,” he said.

The company has procedure for drivers to check on all passengers.

In an unrelated incident about 10 days ago, a 7-year-old Leechburg student was taken to the Roenigk bus garage and office in Allegheny Township , about five miles away from the David Leech Elementary School where the child is a student.

In that case, bus company officials said another driver saw the student getting off the bus alone in the parking lot and he was brought into the office. The student was then bused back to the elementary school.

That driver was fired, too.

McCracken called such incidents “extremely unusual.”