Cynthia Morgan, who has driven school buses for Harford County: The wider industry impact

A 67-year-old school bus driver in Maryland has lost her route after allowing a 10-year-old student to rescue an injured kitten from the side of a rural road, prompting parents and community members to campaign for her reinstatement. Cynthia Morgan, who has driven school buses for Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) for 11 years, was removed from her route earlier this week after the incident on Heaps School Road in Pylesville, Maryland.

The Baltimore Sun and The Independent, the incident has sparked a debate over student safety, disciplinary action and the circumstances surrounding the driver’s removal, according to CBS News Baltimore. The decision has drawn criticism from families who say Morgan had built strong relationships with the children she transported over the years.

What happened on the rural Maryland road?

The incident occurred when 10-year-old Alex Thomas spotted a kitten on the roadside while travelling on Morgan’s school bus. In statements reported by CBS News Baltimore and The Baltimore Sun, the district explained that decisions concerning the certification of school bus drivers can involve multiple circumstances and requirements rather than a single incident.

Morgan stopped the vehicle and allowed the boy to retrieve the animal, according to The Baltimore Sun. Morgan purchased school supplies for students at the beginning of the academic year and gave them gifts during holidays and birthday cards on their special days, using her own money, according to Kalambihis. 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, according to the report.

Alex was the only student on the bus at the time. He carried the kitten with him until they reached North Harford Elementary School, after which Morgan took responsibility for the animal. The decision to let a child leave the bus has since become the central issue in the dispute. others acknowledge that school transport safety rules exist to prevent potentially dangerous situations While some parents have argued that the rescue was a compassionate response to an animal in distress. Footage from the rural road, reviewed by CBS News Baltimore, showed little traffic at the location. However, the low-traffic conditions have not eliminated concerns about allowing a student to leave a school bus during a journey. Other parents have also highlighted Morgan’s longstanding involvement with students beyond her driving duties. Carolyn Kalambihis, whose three children travelled on Morgan’s bus for five years, described her as someone who regularly went out of her way to make children feel welcome. Harford County Public Schools has maintained that student safety remains its priority. Morgan maintained that she had not placed the child at risk and defended her actions during a meeting with district officials. The broader circumstances cited in the letter suggest that the decision may not have been based solely on the kitten rescue, although the district has not publicly detailed all the factors involved in Morgan’s case.