Woman injured as parents take up school bus fight

Some Centerville parents missed an opportunity to set a positive example for their children last week, and instead things took a tragic turn when adults stepped in to their children's argument.

On Thursday afternoon, February 12, two Centerville High School students were continuing an on-going argument during the ride home on their CISD school bus. The substitute bus driver happened to be CHS principal Bob Loomis. The bus reached the girls' designated drop off -- they both live on the same private road -- and the students disembarked. Parents of both girls were waiting and apparently took up the argument.

Loomis tried to prevent the confrontation from escalating into violence. When he saw that he could not do so, Loomis got back on the bus to drive the busload of children to safety then called 9-1-1.

According to the initial report, a man struck a woman in the face with a shovel handle, fracturing her eye orb and nose. The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries, and underwent surgery the next day. No children were injured.

CISD Superintendent Cathy Nichols commended Mr. Loomis for his actions. "He did exactly what he should have done: He protected our kids and that's our main objective, so I'm very pleased."

Leon County Deputy Thomlinson stated, "I think it's a tragedy that parents don't set a better example for kids, and blow things out of proportion." Deputy Kevin Ellis is investigating the incident.