Knife-wielding man forces school policy evaluation

The Libby School District might need to reevaluate their bus policies in the wake of a recent event in which a man, armed with a knife, stepped onto a bus and reportedly made threatening gestures toward the driver.

The incident occurred Friday, Feb. 20, on Terrace View Road outside Libby. The man, Duane Richard Tholen, age 57, said he was upset because the bus was traveling too quickly on the residential street.

The affidavit indicates Tholen waved down the bus, and then stepped one foot inside when the driver opened the door to respond. The driver and adult aide on the bus both reported to sheriff’s investigators that Tholen had a knife and was waving it within 12 inches of the driver’s face.

Craig Barringer, Libby schools superintendent, said he was unaware of any specific policy prohibiting drivers from stopping at locations other than actual bus stops. The district, he said, contracts with Harlow’s Bus Service to transport students to and from school.

The district’s contract with Harlow’s restricts who is allowed to be transported by the bus, but makes no mention of off-schedule stops.

“The school buses are intended to provide transportation for eligible pupils and the drivers are expected to provide the safest possible driving. In that respect, the school buses shall transport only eligible pupils, authorized district officials for transportation administrative purposes, the driver, and safety personnel of the contractor,” according to page five of the contract.

The contract requires compliance with Montana law and a minimum of 10 hours of annual training, as required by the Montana Department of Public Instruction. Agency spokeswoman Allyson Hagen said drivers are trained in how to handle these situations, referencing videos about violence and bullying prevention on the bus, as well as specific training sessions conducted by law enforcement.

“Also, we have an annual school bus drivers’ conference as well as other trainings and have been bringing in speakers to train on hostage situations or when weapons are brought onto the school bus. Last year at our conference, we had police officers come in and do a training that included a scenario of a hostage takeover on a school bus,” she said.

The situation Friday in Libby was not a hostage situation, nor was it anything nearly as threatening. It does, however, raise concern among school officials. Barringer said it is something he’s taking very seriously.

Barringer said this situation was a difficult one, especially from the perspective of the driver. The uncertainty stems from the situation and not knowing why the man was waving down the bus. Was it a call for help? “Hindsight is 20/20,” he said, “but it’s really hard to say what you’d do without being in the situation.”

Troy Schools’ Director of Transportation, Keith Haggerty, said their drivers just don’t allow anyone other than students on the bus.

Haggerty said Troy’s drivers engage in a lot of situational training, above and beyond the 10 hours per year that is required by the state agency.

In the case of an emergency near the bus, Troy district’s drivers are trained to open the driver’s side window, or if that is unsafe, crack the door just enough to engage in conversation with the person. “They do everything possible to keep the individual off the bus,” Haggerty said.

All of the school buses are equipped with radios that tie into the same system as police, fire and ambulance dispatch. Those radios are the best means for bus drivers to provide assistance to the public in case of an emergency, Haggerty added.

Barringer said he is facing a situation entirely new to him and that he will need to get with the contractor to devise a plan moving forward. “Our number one expectation is to get the kids home safely,” he said.

That review won’t be unique to Libby schools. Troy superintendent Jacob Francom also expressed concern. “When this type of thing happens, it makes us reflect and review our policies as well,” he said.