A sign banning students from speaking Spanish on a Juniata County School District bus has sparked controversy in the community and prompted statements from the transportation company and district this week.
The picture of the sign, which was taken by a Juniata County resident’s child, said “Out of respect for English only students there will be NO speaking Spanish on this bus!” The message was signed “owner/management.”
When PennLive spoke to Rorher Bus on Friday the company was unable to say if any internal investigation is taking place.
However, on Saturday, the company provided the following statement, confirming the bus in question is “owned and operated by a separate entity” that has since been suspended:
Rohrer Bus has been made aware of a racially insensitive note that was discovered on one of the school buses serving the Juniata County School District. This bus is owned and operated by a separate entity, but initial reports referencing the source of the note as “owner/management” create the perception that this note was authorized by representatives of Rohrer Bus.
We want to make it explicitly clear that Rohrer Bus did not author or endorse this statement in any way. Such language and sentiments are entirely contrary to our company’s values and commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all students, families, and staff.
As Juniata County School District’s transportation management partner, we have been working closely with District officials to swiftly investigate. As a precautionary measure, we have suspended the transportation provider involved pending the outcome of the investigation.
We recognize the seriousness of this situation and the impact it may have on our community. Rohrer Bus is committed to taking proactive steps to prevent such incidents in the future. We will be implementing additional training programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion for all Juniata County School District transportation providers to ensure that the buses remain safe and welcoming spaces for every student.
We appreciate the community’s patience and support as we continue to work closely with the school district to resolve this matter. Rohrer Bus remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and respect in all aspects of our operations.
A PennLive reporter reached out to the school district Friday afternoon regarding the incident and received the following statement from Assistant Superintendent Benjamin Fausey:
“This morning [Friday morning], the Juniata County District and its transportation partner, Rohrer Bus became aware of a sign being displayed on a school bus and took immediate action in response. The District and Rorher remain committed to providing a safe environment for all students.”
The school district did not respond to further questions about what “immediate action” was taken or if the district is launching its own investigation into the incident.
It is unclear how long the sign was posted inside the school bus. U.S. Census data from 2020 said over 900 people in Juniata County were considered Hispanic or Latino at the time.
