SUMMERFIELD, Fla. – The principal at Harbour View Elementary School in Summerfield was struck by a private vehicle Thursday morning while overseeing carline procedures, Marion County Public Schools said.
According to the district, the principal was transported to the hospital following the incident and is expected to make a full recovery and sustained only minor injuries.
News 6’s Amy Russo learned of this incident after a tip from a concerned parent.
“There should be a designated person to do that, the staff should not be out there at all,” said Sara Miller. She has four kids within the Marion County Public School District.
News 6 asked the school district why the principal was helping out in the first place, and if this was a staffing issue.
“School administrators, including principals and even teachers, have regular car duties every day,” said Kevin Christian with Marion County Public Schools. “It’s not unusual for them to get out there. That’s how they develop a lot of relationships with parents and the parents know her on a first name basis.” He says it had nothing to do with staffing, and in that aspect, there are no issues.
Concerns though, go beyond the carline.
Parents have reached out to News 6 about the lack of bus aids as well.
The school district confirms there are 145 bus aids districtwide, however with over 200 buses throughout the district not every bus gets one. So, how is that determined?
“Really depends on what’s going on with that particular route and who rides the bus. In a perfect world, we have a bus aid for every bus, but unfortunately that’s just not the way it has ever been for our district and likely won’t be because of budget concerns,” said Christian.
Sara Miller says her kids are on two of those buses that do not get a bus aid.
She says it’s a major concern for parents, especially after a school bus was clipped by a train in Sumter County. Although it’s not clear if there was a bus aid on that bus, Miller says if the bus driver is unable to stay focused on the road because they’re distracting trying to care for the kids, she fears something similar could happen in Marion County.