A bus driver in Pennsylvania found herself in the spotlight after a controversial decision led to her dismissal. Diane Crawford, aged 66, was terminated from her position at the Juniata County School District following the display of a sign on her bus that prohibited students from speaking Spanish.
The handwritten notice, which stated, “Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus,” was attributed to “ownership/management.” This bold statement quickly stirred controversy and resulted in the school district launching an investigation into the matter. Crawford’s employment was terminated on February 1, just a week after the sign made its appearance.
After an extended period of silence, Crawford has broken her silence to address the situation. In a recent interview with CBS 21 on December 18, she expressed her regrets about the wording of the sign. “I didn’t mean to be racially insensitive or anything like that,” Crawford explained, reflecting on the consequences of her actions.
The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the sensitivity required around language use in diverse communities, especially in educational settings where inclusivity is paramount. Crawford’s acknowledgment of her misstep underlines the importance of thoughtful communication in a multicultural society.
After ten months of silence Crawford is finally defending her actions.
‘I didn’t mean to be racially insensitive or anything like that,’ she told CBS 21 on December 18.
The note was directed at one bilingual student who reportedly had a history of ‘riling up’ other kids.
‘I didn’t know if he was bullying somebody, telling them to do something they shouldn’t do,’ Crawford added.
The controversial message reads: ‘Out of respect to English only students there will be NO speaking Spanish on this bus’
Diane Crawford, 66, was fired in February after posting the note in her bus
‘Maybe it should have said, “No bullying in any language,” but I didn’t mean it to be anything but to correct him.’
At the time, the county claimed to have suspended her as a ‘precautionary measure’ while they conducted the investigation.
Rohrer Buses and Junita County said it wrapped up quickly when she admitted to putting up the sign, which they condemned as ‘racially insensitive.’
But, Crawford said neither the suspension nor the investigation ever existed, per CBS 12.
‘I would like them to admit that they were wrong,’ she said she is asking for $30,000 to cover her losses.
She bought her bus in 2024 after being subcontracted for the route by Rohrer Buses for almost 12 years.
‘I don’t know what else to do. I’m on Medicare and Medicaid now and SNAP,’ she said to CBS 21. ‘I had to go on antidepressants because of this.’
The Juniata County School District alongside Rohrer Bus are investigating the note, which was allegedly written and posted by a ‘separate entity’ (pictured: one of the district’s schools)
A ‘racist’ note left on a Pennsylvania school bus prohibiting students from speaking Spanish has sparked fierce outrage from community members
Rohrer Buses and Juniata County responded to Crawford’s claims on Thursday.
The agencies said that her ‘conduct did not align with the standards and expectations for student transportation providers.’
‘Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus stand by the decision made in this matter and remain committed to providing a safe and inclusive transportation environment for all students,’ they wrote.
After Crawford was fired, the district conducted professional training for all transportation providers in April.
‘This training focused on employer responsibilities, professional expectations, student equity, and appropriate response protocols,’ it said.
Ninety four percent of people living in Juniata County are white, according to US Census data. Just over 900 residents are Hispanic or Latino.
Crawford was a bus driver for the school district for more than 30 years.
‘I dedicated everything I had to driving the bus,’ she said. ‘And it was for the kids I loved the kids.’
