Education
Maryland Bus Driver Removed After Allowing Student to Rescue Kitten
A 67‑year‑old school bus driver in Maryland was removed from her route after a 10‑year‑old student rescued an injured kitten from a rural road. Cynthia Morgan, who has driven for Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) for 11 years, was taken off her route earlier this week following the incident on Heaps School Road in Pylesville. The incident occurred when Alex Thomas, the only student on the bus at the time, spotted a kitten on the roadside. Morgan stopped the vehicle and allowed the boy to retrieve the animal. Alex carried the kitten to North Harford Elementary School, after which Morgan took responsibility for it.
The decision to let a child leave the bus has become the focal point of the dispute. Some parents argue that the rescue was a compassionate act, while others point to school transport safety rules that exist to prevent potentially dangerous situations. Footage reviewed by CBS News Baltimore showed little traffic at the location, but concerns remain about allowing a student to leave a school bus during a journey.
Parents have rallied behind Morgan, with a petition for her reinstatement gathering hundreds of signatures by October 9. Alex’s mother, Taffy Thomas, said her son would have been deeply upset if he had been unable to help the kitten and believes the removal has had an emotional impact on the child. Carolyn Kalambihis, whose three children rode Morgan’s bus for five years, described Morgan as someone who regularly went out of her way to make children feel welcome, noting that she bought school supplies, gave gifts, and sent birthday cards using her own money.
Harford County Public Schools maintains that student safety is its priority. The district explained that decisions about driver certification can involve multiple circumstances and requirements, not a single incident. Morgan was employed by Cleary Transportation Inc., an independent contractor, but HCPS is responsible for certifying drivers who transport students on its behalf. A letter from the district’s transportation director to the contractor on October 5 cited multiple incidents involving Morgan, including concerns about inappropriate interactions with students, and referenced the kitten incident as part of the review of her certification. The district reviewed footage of the journey and noted that Morgan had allowed the student to retrieve the kitten and subsequently kept the animal on board. Morgan has maintained that she did not place the child at risk and defended her actions during a meeting with district officials.
Cleary Transportation directed media enquiries to the school district, while HCPS declined to discuss the individual driver’s certification status. The petition continues to draw support, and the dispute remains unresolved as families question how school transport safety requirements are enforced and whether disciplinary decisions can account for the circumstances surrounding an individual case.