Sealy ISD bus driver allegedly forced students to close the windows of a non-air-conditioned bus

HOUSTON, Texas – Parents are demanding answers after a Sealy ISD bus driver allegedly prohibited students from rolling down the windows in a non-air-conditioned vehicle when temperatures exceeded 90 degrees.

Parents reported that on Thursday, August 22, in temperatures between 100 and 113 degrees, a bus driver intentionally turned onto a dirt road and drove slowly while students sat on the bus (which reportedly had no air conditioning) with the windows rolled up, complaining that they could not breathe.

“People get arrested all the time for inadvertently exposing their children to these conditions while walking to a gas station,” said civil rights attorney Harry Daniels. “This woman intentionally put these children in danger for over a half hour during a 100-degree heat warning, and nobody did anything.”

In a video posted by one of the parents, the students could be seen chanting “It's hot” and “We need air conditioning” and the bus driver could be heard saying, “Roll up the window, you shouldn't put your hands out the window.”

Sealy ISD responded that they were investigating the incident and learned that the bus driver asked a student who stuck his head out the window to roll up his window, at which point the driver stopped the bus for two minutes and 20 seconds to speak with the student.

“Last Thursday, a driver asked a student who was sticking his head out the window to roll up his window and the driver stopped the bus for approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds to address the student. During the trip, the roof hatches and windows were open,” said the statement from Sealy ISD Superintendent Bryan Hallmark.

Hallmark also addressed the issue with the air conditioning on school buses, saying that they were made aware of the issues with the air conditioning on the buses last week and are working to resolve the issue.

“Last Friday, school administrators adjusted the amount of time the bus spends on unpaved roads to help our students get home as quickly and safely as possible. It can get hot on the buses, especially in August. Fortunately, we have cooler temperatures this week,” the statement said.

One of the parents, Coshenna Smith, said two of her children were on the bus. When her children returned home Thursday, her 11-year-old daughter, who suffers from chronic asthma, and her 12-year-old son were drenched in sweat, she said.

Smith has now hired a lawyer and is considering taking legal action against the district.

Sealy ISD’s full statement on the incident:

“Last week, we were made aware of concerns about the lack of air conditioning on many of our buses. We also received reports that students were not allowed to roll down their windows on the bus and that the driver stopped a bus to address a student's disciplinary issue. We take these concerns very seriously. As we investigated these reports last Thursday, a driver asked a student who stuck his head out the window to roll up his window and the driver stopped the bus for approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds to address the student. During the trip, the roof hatches and windows were open. Last Friday, school administrators made adjustments to the amount of time the bus spends on dirt roads to help our students get home as quickly and safely as possible. Buses can get hot, especially in August. Thankfully, we have cooler temperatures this week.”