By Dr. Joseph Stanley Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Okeechobee County Schools
OKEECHOBEE – Sept. 28, 2026 – Okeechobee County Schools understands the concern raised by recent social media posts regarding an alleged bullying incident on a school bus. Every student deserves to feel safe, and we take reports of bullying seriously.
The District continues to investigate the incident. Video provides only a limited view of an event and may not capture the circumstances leading up to it or the full context of staff efforts to maintain safety. We ask the community to avoid drawing conclusions from video alone.
Our transportation staff have a responsibility to maintain supervision and help prevent students from entering unsafe situations. Protecting student privacy limits the information we can share publicly, including individual investigation findings or any student disciplinary matters.
Federal law limits the District’s ability to respond publicly to claims involving individual students. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally prohibits disclosure of personally identifiable information from student education records, including disciplinary records, without appropriate consent or a legally permitted exception. These protections remain applicable even when an incident is discussed on social media. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s FERPA website.
We remain committed to addressing safety concerns, supporting students, and communicating directly with the families involved.
Editor's note: Videos posted on social media show an Okeechobee student climbing out the window of a bus and running away. The poster, who identified herself as the child's mother, claimed the girl climbed out the window to escape from bullies. The videos were apparently taken by other students.
