Parents Upset After Bus Mechanical Malfunction Forces Rescheduling of PUSD Band Performance at Disneyland

[UPDATED] After a bus malfunction prevented local students from performing in a parade at Disneyland, parents and students learned Thursday that they will get another chance. 

On March 6, angry parents began calling for multiple actions to be taken after local students lost the opportunity to participate in the Disneyland Parade due to a malfunction on a chartered bus which reportedly left the students unable to exit the vehicle.

The Pasadena Unified School District All-Star Band was scheduled to march in the parade on March 6 and boarded a bus owned and operated by F&J Transportation bound for the “Happiest Place on Earth” in Anaheim, approximately 45 minutes from Pasadena.

However, upon arrival, the bus door failed to open, and students remained on the bus until the door was eventually opened. Reports vary on the duration of the students’ confinement on the bus. F&J Transportation claims it was 30-35 minutes, while parents assert it was an hour.

“Half the kids from the band on one of the buses were trapped on the bus,” stated parent Leilani Miguel.

The students will get another chance to perform in the parade on April 29, according to Miguel.  

Miguel mentioned that at one point, firefighters considered using ladders to evacuate the students through windows, but park officials deemed it too risky.

Once the door was opened, the students were permitted to enter the theme park. 

“There were many of us parents, family members, and friends that took time off work, paid all the high expensive Disney prices for tickets, parking, gas, expenses in the park to make this a memorable day for all involved,” a parent expressed.

Juan Ortiz, an official with F&J Transportation, clarified that the driver, not Disney officials, opened the door.

“The driver did contact the mechanic to make him aware of what was going on, and the mechanic even contacted me to let me know what was happening, and that’s the protocol. The drivers always contact the mechanic if there’s a mechanical issue with the bus. We, via phone, contacted the driver and instructed him on how to open the door,” Ortiz explained to Pasadena Now.

“After several minutes of troubleshooting, the door was opened and everybody exited the bus safely. Nobody required medical attention,” Ortiz added. According to Ortiz, the driver ensured the air conditioning was running so everyone could remain comfortable while inside the bus. The bus also had a restroom available for the students’ use.

“Thank God everybody got off with no medical emergency,” Ortiz said.

Several parents have contacted Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Mayor Victor Gordo, and Councilmember Tyron Hampton regarding the incident.

In an email, the District 1 Councilmember contacted Koko Panossian, the director of the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department.

“I am bringing him in so that he is notified and aware of the company that was selected, and we can also, from the city side, be mindful and conduct proper inspections of buses before we put any young residents on a bus,” Hampton stated. Members of the school Board were cc’d on that email.

“What are we representing here?” a parent questioned in an email to Hampton. “These kids have worked so hard to perform, and you can’t even get them buses that work. And this is not the first time PUSD has disappointed us with the transportation. The bus company and also PUSD should be responsible for helping pay for the cost of all the kids in case they can go back, which is a problem for parents who took time off and can’t afford to go back.”

Hampton has been in discussion with Jens Weiden, Rose Bowl Chief Executive Officer, to explore the possibility of arranging an event where the students could perform. Blanco confirmed that the District is investigating the matter.

“A mechanical failure occurred on a chartered bus that was transporting the PUSD All-Star Band to perform at Disneyland on March 6,” said Blanco. “This led to a delay that resulted in the All-Star Band missing its performance window, although students were still able to enter the park.”

“We are deeply disappointed that our students missed this opportunity to perform at Disneyland and are reviewing the incident. We are prioritizing improved service for student field trips and events. We are considering a restructuring of the District’s contract with bus service providers to ensure that student field trips are provided with reliable, high-quality transportation options.”

A parent mentioned that a meeting with Blanco is scheduled for Friday. Parents hope that if the District compensates them, the bus company would reimburse the District due to the District’s ongoing budget crisis.

“This is not a situation fix,” Miguel commented. “We need to address this long term, from this point on for all younger students and future students.”

Parents are urging the District to inspect buses before events and to ensure that drivers and companies are thoroughly vetted.

Miguel said she has reviewed the bus’s inspection records and found that although it passed inspection in October, it had reportedly had a series of issues leading up to that point.

“Drivers need to undergo background checks and be held accountable,” Miguel asserted. “If they do not perform their required safety checks before placing kids on these vehicles.”