Tensions were high at Binghamton City School District's school board meeting on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024. Dozens of residents turned out to express concerns about school bus safety practices after a five-year-old student was injured while riding the bus owned by First Student Bus Company.

Binghamton schools has a contract with First Student Bus Company for its transportation services. 

The boy's mother, Tamisha Manago, says she learned what had happened in a phone call from the bus monitor at 4:10 p.m. on September 30th.

According to a report from First Student Bus Company, Manago's son allegedly fell asleep on the bus, when the bus made a turn he fell off the seat and hit his head on two bolts.

She says when her son got off the bus, she found him bleeding from a head wound with blood covering his hands and shirt. He needed two staples to close the wound.

Manago says no one administered any first aid and the extent of the injury was not relayed on the initial phone call. 

According to a statement from the Binghamton City School District, the incident is under investigation and the transportation provider will be held accountable. 

The district went on to state they contacted the bus company immediately after learning what had happened. 

But at Tuesday's meeting, Manago took to the podium and said the district didn't do enough. 

"Nobody from the district  has reached out to me to see if I was OK, my mental was OK, if my kids mental was OK, nobody has done that," Manago said. "I'm gonna need everyone to pay attention to the bigger picture here not just our children. I know that you guys care for them between those hours, but we have to reach out to them after as well. that's how we connect community, connect community with the school system, the police system, and everything else going on."

Other community members and parents shared similar stories. A group of community members are calling on the district to take accountability and make changes to the current safety protocols to prevent future accidents. 

 

Binghamton City School District Complete Statement:

"Student safety is a top priority for the Binghamton City School District. When the District learned of this incident, we immediately worked with our contracted transportation provider to find out what happened and to ensure appropriate steps are being taken to maintain the safety of all students riding their buses. An investigation is on-going and the contractor will be held accountable for any improper actions that may have occurred."