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Former School Bus Driver Charged With 37 Felony Counts After DUI

By: Merari Acevedo

26 June 2026 at 23:26

A former Dunklin R-5 School District bus driver has been charged in connection with an alleged driving under the influence incident that occurred while transporting students earlier this year, reported First Alert 4.

According to the news report, Dawna Brennan faces 37 felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child stemming from a Feb. 6 incident in which she allegedly drove a school bus carrying 37 students under the age of 17 after consuming alcohol.

Officers were reportedly called that afternoon to assist with a report of an impaired driver. An initial breath test administered at about 3:20 p.m. showed Brennan’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.029 percent. Authorities said she admitted to drinking half a bottle of Coors Light before driving the bus.

A second breath test conducted about an hour later registered a 0.000 percentblood alcohol reading. Investigators said via the article that Brennan also provided officers with a list of medications she was taking, noting that impairment can occur when alcohol is combined with certain medications.

Authorities said via the report that surveillance footage from the Herculaneum Parks and Recreation Department showed Brennan stopping at Kade’s Playground and drinking from a bottle of Coors Light before beginning her afternoon bus route. Officers later recovered the discarded bottle from a nearby trash can.

The Dunklin R-5 School District reportedly said Brennan was terminated immediately after officials learned about the situation.

“This week, a former school bus driver for the Dunklin R-5 School District was charged in connection with a driving under the influence incident from Feb. 2026,” Communications Director Matt Lichtenstein said via the article. The district also praised Officer Tavener for assisting local law enforcement with the investigation.

District officials reportedly stated that Brennan passed all required pre-employment background checks, including a review of her driving record. While court records indicate her blood alcohol level was below the legal limit for commercial drivers, the district said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol use by employees responsible for student transportation.

Written with AI assistance

The post Former School Bus Driver Charged With 37 Felony Counts After DUI appeared first on School Transportation News.

Beloved Missouri School Bus Driver Retires After 27 Years, More Than 1 Million Miles

School Transportation News

By: Merari Acevedo

16 June 2026 at 20:02

Students at Spoede Elementary School gave longtime school bus driver Carolyn Taylor a hero’s farewell on the last day of school, celebrating her retirement after 27 years behind the wheel and more than 1 million miles safely driven, reported KSDK News.

Lining the school walkway with pom-poms in hand, students cheered and chanted “Ms. Taylor! Ms. Taylor!” as she made her final walk-through campus, stopping to give high-fives to children she had transported for generations.

“She greets us with the warmest smile every time,” said student Avya Kumar to local news reporters.

Taylor began working for the Ladue School District in 1997 as a school bus monitor. She became a driver after realizing she could earn more with a commercial license. “I’m like, ‘No, no. Come on Carolyn. It’s time to get your license,’” she recalled with a laugh.

She spent the next 27 years driving the same Route L-10, becoming a familiar presence for countless families in the neighborhood. “Ms. Taylor is like part of our family,” said Lisa Ross, whose four children rode Taylor’s bus over the years. “She’s the best and she knows every kid, every parent, every everything.”

Ross reportedly loved Taylor so much that 19 years ago, she started an annual tradition called the “Bus Stop Bash,” a celebration for everyone at her bus stop held on one of the last day of school. The event features donuts and chocolate milk for students and families. What began as a small gathering at Ross’ home gradually spread down Grazer Road, growing into a neighborhood tradition that became as much a part of the school year as the first day of class.

Taylor reportedly made it a point to know far more than the names on her route roster. She learned students’ siblings, remembered family stories and kept in touch with generations of riders. Holiday cards from families decorated her bus each year, and she often asked parents about former students who had long since graduated and were now adults.

At Christmas, Taylor handed out candy canes to riders and made sure younger siblings at home received one, too.

Former rider Riley Deutsch, now a second-grade teacher at Spoede, said Taylor built trust with students through kindness and consistency. “The kids love and trust her, and they want to do well for her,” Deutsch said via the article.

Transportation Director Joe Griffin described Taylor as “the grandmother of the Ladue School District Transportation Department,” praising both her compassion and reliability. “She is so sweet and so loving and would do anything for any of the kids,” Griffin said to reporters.

District officials estimate Taylor drove more than 1 million miles during her career, enough to circle the Earth roughly 46 times. Though she considered retiring several years ago, Taylor said students persuaded her to stay. “The kids kept saying, ‘Ms. Taylor, please don’t go,’” she said.

Now approaching her 70th birthday, Taylor plans to undergo knee replacement surgery, visit her grandchildren in Arizona, and take a long-awaited trip to Dubai.

When asked what she will miss most, Taylor pointed to the students. “I may come to work feeling bad, but those kids say something and that pain goes away,” she said.

Written with assistance from AI.

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