Apryl Essien says her second-grade daughter with autism was left on a Beaumont ISD bus for about three hours and arrived home in a soiled pull-up. Essien alleges the driver repeatedly told parents the bus was "15 minutes away" and that the district's app was not working, leaving families uninformed until about 5 p.m. Transportation Director Corey Metts apologized, cited staffing shortages and said the district reviewed GPS data and will work to improve consistency and communication for routes serving students with special needs.
Beaumont Parent Alleges Daughter With Autism Left on Bus for Three Hours; District Apologizes
12News
A Beaumont parent, Apryl Essien, says her second-grade daughter, who has autism, was left on a Beaumont ISD bus for about three hours after school on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Essien says she had little information about her daughter's whereabouts while the bus ran far behind schedule and that her child — along with another student — arrived home in soiled pull-ups after the prolonged delay.
Parent's Account
Essien told the district in an email that the bus driver repeatedly told parents the bus was "15 minutes away," a claim she believes was false. She also said the BISD mobile app (My Ride K-12) was not functioning at the time, leaving families without timely updates. According to Essien, parents were not notified about the late route until around 5 p.m.
District Response
Corey Metts, Beaumont ISD's Director of Transportation, issued an apology and acknowledged the situation as "extremely concerning," especially for a young child with special needs. Metts said staffing shortages — including the regular afternoon driver being unavailable and multiple employee absences — forced the district to double up routes, which contributed to the delay.
"First, I want to apologize for what your daughter and your family experienced yesterday. I completely understand why you are upset. A five-year-old student being on the bus for that length of time and arriving home in a soiled pull-up is extremely concerning," Metts said.
Metts added that the Transportation Department reviewed GPS data and route assignments from the day, and that the district intends to keep driver and monitor assignments as consistent as possible — a practice Metts said is especially important for students with autism and other special needs.
Follow-Up Actions
In a separate statement, BISD spokesperson Jackie said the district reviewed the incident and identified ways to strengthen protocols and communication. The district said it contacted affected families directly and outlined corrective actions aimed at improving route coordination, family notifications and transportation procedures.
Beaumont ISD reiterated its commitment to safe, reliable transportation and said it would work to ensure timely, accurate communication during future delays.
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