RACINE — A bus driver and bus monitor have been suspended by the Southern Local Board of Education.

The board meet in special session on Monday evening to hear complaints against employees.

Those employees, Misty Evans and Melissa Reedy, have both been suspended five days without pay.

According to Southern Local Superintendent Tony Deem, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, a preschool student was left on the bus, sleeping, for over an hour.

Reedy was the driver of the bus, and Evans was the bus monitor.

Both employees were given the opportunity to speak before the board during Monday’s meeting prior to disciplinary action.

Following executive session, the board voted on two resolutions presented by Deem with regard to the employees.

The resolution regarding Evans reads as follows,

The Superintendent recommends that Mrs. Misty Evans be suspended for five (5) days without pay, for good and just cause, specifically failure to clear the bus and deliver all students safely to class, resulting in a student being left on the bus.

The resolution regarding Reedy reads as follows,

The Superintendents recommends that Mrs. Melissa Reedy be suspended for five (5) days without pay, for good and just cause, specifically failure to conduct post trip inspection resulting in a student being left on the bus.

Both resolutions were passed by a 4-1 vote, with board member Peggy Gibbs voting no on each.

Deem stated that both Reedy and Evans apologized to the board during Monday’s meeting and were very remorseful.

In addition to the suspension, they must also complete additional safety training.

Both suspensions began on March 5.

A second bus driver was suspended for five days in late February in an unrelated incident.

Charlie Lawrence was suspended on Feb. 25 for five days without pay. Lawrence returned the bus to the bus garage after hitting a tree limb hanging over the road instead of staying at the scene of the accident.

“The District is reviewing safety procedures and is offering additional and refresher training for all drivers,” said Deem in the wake of the recent suspensions.

Present at the meeting were board members Dennie Hill, Denny Evans, Paul Harris, John Hoback and Gibbs.