Sarasota Bus Driver

"Strong allegations against a Sarasota school bus driver Friday night. An elementary student says the bus driver embarrassed and offended him with a racial slur.
The student says he couldn't help but hear the curse words come from the bus drivers mouth. The school district is aware of the accusations and looking into what exactly is going on.
"It didn't make me feel any good. Strong allegations against a Sarasota school bus driver Friday night. An elementary student says the bus driver embarrassed and offended him with a racial slur.
The student says he couldn't help but hear the curse words come from the bus drivers mouth. The school district is aware of the accusations and looking into what exactly is going on.
"It didn't make me feel any good..not at all."
Eight-year-old Jordan Blyden is a student at Tatum Ridge Elementary School. He says last week's bus ride home is one he doesn't want to experience again. "Mr. Mike was yelling at the substitute driver and because the substitute driver said that he didn't like the way how he was yelling at all the other little kindergarteners."
Jordan says the bus driver was yelling the "f" word to the assistant bus driver... in front of all the kids on the bus. "With all the little kindergartners sitting right behind him and me sitting all the way in the back being able to hear it."
When he got home, he told his dad what had happened.
"The language is certainly a concern in front of 8-year-olds. It's inappropriate on any school bus whether it be 8-years-old or high school." Jordan's step-father, Art Horn, called Sarasota School District transportation officials to issue a complaint.
Gary Leatherman is the school district communications director. He says if the allegations are true there will be consequences. "We do everything possible to ensure that our students are safe and comfortable in our schools and particularly as regards there cultural or ethnic background."
Horn isn't going to allow his son back on that bus with the driver he says offended and embarrassed his son.
"I'm really concerned that Jordan was singled out and made to feel bad to his friends why they had to change seats and the racial undertones that came into are absolutely unacceptable."
Jordan tells me when he got back on the bus the next day the driver used racial slurs. "And then I told him he was using foul language and I didn't really want to be around it and then he said and then he called me a big black piece of chocolate."
Jordan says he just wants a different driver taking him to school, and Horn is planning on meeting with school officials and the bus driver Monday.
Eight-year-old Jordan Blyden is a student at Tatum Ridge Elementary School. He says last week's bus ride home is one he doesn't want to experience again. "Mr. Mike was yelling at the substitute driver and because the substitute driver said that he didn't like the way how he was yelling at all the other little kindergarteners."
Jordan says the bus driver was yelling the "f" word to the assistant bus driver... in front of all the kids on the bus. "With all the little kindergartners sitting right behind him and me sitting all the way in the back being able to hear it."
When he got home, he told his dad what had happened.
"The language is certainly a concern in front of 8-year-olds. It's inappropriate on any school bus whether it be 8-years-old or high school." Jordan's step-father, Art Horn, called Sarasota School District transportation officials to issue a complaint.
Gary Leatherman is the school district communications director. He says if the allegations are true there will be consequences. "We do everything possible to ensure that our students are safe and comfortable in our schools and particularly as regards there cultural or ethnic background."
Horn isn't going to allow his son back on that bus with the driver he says offended and embarrassed his son.
"I'm really concerned that Jordan was singled out and made to feel bad to his friends why they had to change seats and the racial undertones that came into are absolutely unacceptable."
Jordan tells me when he got back on the bus the next day the driver used racial slurs. "And then I told him he was using foul language and I didn't really want to be around it and then he said and then he called me a big black piece of chocolate."
Jordan says he just wants a different driver taking him to school, and Horn is planning on meeting with school officials and the bus driver Monday."