Education

Utah School Bus Driver Fired After Taking Students on Unauthorized Trip to Protest

On the return leg of their field trip to a local theater production of “A Tale of Two Cities,” a busload of Salt Lake City-area elementary school students were unexpectedly shuttled to a federal courthouse to witness protesters demonstrate in support of an environmental activist standing trial for pending criminal charges. While bus driver Ryan Pleune claims his bosses at the school district were “secretly, quietly happy” with his actions, the school district fired him Wednesday after parents complained about the unauthorized impromptu side trip.

Utah School Bus Driver Fired After Taking Students on Unauthorized Trip to Protest

Ryan Pleune (Image: KSL)

Pleune is a staunch supporter of Tim DeChristopher, a 29-year-old environmental activist accused of purposefully making bids he couldn’t pay at a federal oil and gas drilling lease auction. While the court considers DeChristopher’s case, fellow environmentalists — including Pleune — have gathered outside the courthouse to voice their support.

After attending the protests Monday, Pleune said he felt it was a “great coincidence” that his driving assignment Tuesday was transporting a group of fifth-graders to see the play.

“I thought yesterday, ‘Man, it would be cool if the kids could come and see this, but I have an assignment to do,’” he said. “I get people to places on time, I follow rules, and I wanted to make sure I do that.”

As students returned to the bus after the play, Pleune decided to show them a different view of “revolution” by taking them to see DeChristopher’s protest rally. “Then I said, you know, I’m just going to go by the courthouse … I’m just going to do something and beg forgiveness later,” he recalled.

The chaperoning teachers did not object to the diverted return to the school after Pleune assured them he would have the students back in time for their scheduled lunch. Pulling the school bus up to the protest, he said the students rolled down their windows and listened to the protesters’ singing for a few minutes.

“I’m an educator. I’m a trained teacher. I taught at East High School for three years, I taught at City Academy for one,” Pleune told KCPW. “And so as an educator, I wanted to share some relevant learning and some real life experiences to the students. I wanted to show them that peaceful demonstration is a right in our democracy.”

Pleune says he shares DeChristopher’s beliefs and wanted to sacrifice the way he thinks DeChristopher has — even if it means losing his job over his actions.

“I’m willing to share in (DeChristpoher’s) risk and embarrassment,” he said. “Civil disobedience didn‘t end with Rosa Parks and it didn’t end with Civil Rights. It’s in our city. … I brought them to show them revolution means different things for different people and that for these people it means singing, joy and resolve.”

On Wednesday, the school district announced that Pleune had been fired.

“The actions he took were his own actions. They were not approved by the school or by the district. Both those entities do not condone what he did,” said school district spokesman Jason Olsen. “The students were on a field trip to go see a play at the Hale Centre Theatre, they were not on a field trip to go see a political rally downtown.”

Comments (99)

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  • Jabber
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:45pm

    Check this out:

    http://ccar.wikispaces.com/file/view/Pleune+Ryan+Personal+Essay.pdf

    What the crap is this guy doing driving a bus in Utah? Unreal….

    Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 12:56am

      Thank you for the “wonderfully etheral” fellowship submission……….what a mess of smoke and mirrors!! And we wonder why our school system is failing…….too many of the teachers are more interested in what makes them feel good about themselves more than they are interested in teaching anything of substance to the students!!

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • Jabber
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 3:16pm

      Vennoye-

      I spent a good hour googling this idiot and cannot figure why last year-not even a full six months ago, he had a cushy job as the Green School Program coordinator for the entire state of Maryland, and is suddenly working as an “on call” bus driver in Utah?

      According to his own fellowship essay, he apparently spent the “three years” he worked at East High (Utah) trying to implement a program HE came up with and get a government grant to pay for it. Because he was spending “too much time” in the “classroom”, they took me out teaching and made him some kind of “Dean” of one of the grades so he could spend more time on his project?? The school did not get the grant-and suddenly he’s working in Maryland. In a far more influential position. That lasted a whole year? Was it his passion for bus driving, or kidnapping students for their educational benefit that drew him back to Utah? Why does this man seem to changes jobs….A LOT?

      If this man lived in my school district or had done his slap-happy tour de courthouse in my district, there’d be a parental law suit coming against him AND the teachers on the bus.

      Report Post »  
    • RyanPleune
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:19pm

      Driving a bus because Utah is the second or third worst in per child spending on education and that means high class sizes and long days – http://www.sltrib.com/csp/cms/sites/sltrib/pages/printerfriendly.csp?id=53373398

      Report Post »  
    • RyanPleune
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:37pm

      Here is a full interview – The Blaze reporter did and excellent job reporting the facts and I imagine you might want to learn more. http://vimeo.com/20579236

      I was driving bus b/c pay and treatment of teachers in Utah is 2nd or 3rd worst in the country based on per child spending. I still think our kids deserve relevant, meaningful and authentic learning experiences even if I’m driving bus.

      Report Post »  
    • RyanPleune
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:40pm

      Heres is a full interview — http://vimeo.com/20579236 – I was driving bus b/c of Utah being 2nd or 3rd worst in per child spending on education. Even while driving bus I still think our kids deserve a meaningful and real education about the rights in our democracy – not just from reading books but in seeing it first hand.

      Report Post »  
  • chicago76
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:43pm

    Agreed. He kidnapped those children. He should be put in prison. The parents should push to have him charged criminally.

    Report Post »  
  • teachermitch32
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:40pm

    The question about his teaching credentials is a good one. Something does not add up in this scenario. Why was he not teaching? Was he let go for some perversion?

    Report Post »  
  • ICANHANDLETHETRUTH
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:09pm

    If I was one of those parents I would be livid, this clown put all those kids in danger, unbelievable

    Report Post »  
    • Cherished Emblems
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:25pm

      The parents were livid..Utah listens to it’s parents! They complained and the idiot got fired! There is No ONE in the state of Utah that is more important then a child…the way all of America should be! God bless Utah!

      Report Post » Cherished Emblems  
  • ConstitutionFreedomLover
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:06pm

    I think the teachers should be suspended!!! ;) What I want to know is why they didn’t stop him or even call the cops or something??? x:(

    Report Post » ConstitutionFreedomLover  
  • firex1204
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:58pm

    When are kids gonig to be allowed to be kids. This guy was crazy for “kidnapping” these kids, but I have a feeling he knew exactly what he was doing and what was going to happen to him and he didn’t care. The left is out of control and they need to be stopped. Leave the kids alone. Parents wake up and start teaching your kids the truth or else it will be the end of the American Dream.

    Report Post »  
  • Petunia
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:57pm

    This is kidnapping. How many parents would have signed a permission slip for him to take the kids to a protest to free a admitted criminal? There isn’t any educational value in that.

    The lesson for today children is that it’s okay to break the law for a cause? And some idiots will protest on your behalf?

    This man should be banned from working with children. In fact parents should press charges for taking their children without permission.

    Report Post »  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:57pm

    What do TSA airport agents and liberals have in common? They both like to grope our kids.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • Amica
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:56pm

    It’s interesting to me how people can compartmentalize their morality. He wants to take a stand to “do what’s right” and if he has to lie to do it that’s ok. He said he only stopped to “check on some battery issues.” Yeah right.

    Personally, I would have less of a problem with it if he had just driven by. But he stopped the bus, got out and participated in the protest for a few minutes. He was very happy to get his face on TV. I hope he enjoyed his fifteen minutes.

    The problem is, even with a peaceful protest (which this has been) anything can happen. Anyone could have inserted themselves just to cause trouble, that does happen.

    So I guess he would be ok with it if another driver decided it was important to the kids education to take them to a religious service,

    Report Post » Amica  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:46pm

    Time to rid the Union entitlement freeloaders and take control of your schools, worthless teachers equal worthless students. You are about one thing the bus driver kidnapped the children. It is the parents right to press charges.

    Report Post »  
    • Tnredneck
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:19pm

      And it’s time to rid this country of the NEA. Look what’s on their recommended reading list. Rules for radicals. Defund the nea now!

      Report Post »  
  • cstcomputers
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:40pm

    Fire em all…

    Report Post » cstcomputers  
  • TumbleBumble
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:40pm

    Why in the world do these people think they can make decisions for other people’s children? It is frightening.

    Report Post » TumbleBumble  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:49pm

      Because they’re totally convinced they know better than you, that’s why. They believe their cause is so just and so important, and that parents aren‘t doing ’enough’, that they feel it’s incumbent on them to step into the imaginary gap.

      Liberals of this stripe truly believe their are no other rights except those they claim for themselves. Everything else must be subborned to their worldview; they are the definitive arbiters of perfection and sanctimony. Every blade of grass is so precious to them that private property is a horrible, hateful concept devised by ‘evil’ men.

      Ever meet a hardcore vegan? They’re the most messed up.

      Here’s another good difference between a Conservative and a liberal:

      If a Conservative doesn’t want steak, he doesn’t order a steak.
      If a liberal doesn’t want steak, no one can have steak, either.

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • TumbleBumble
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:04pm

      Upstate -

      It makes sense in a 1+1=2 sort of way (if one wants to play along). But to think, for a minute, that he felt an impulse to share a ‘teaching moment’ and that his only hesitation was losing his job… no thought about crossing a line with the parents trust.

      How much more can parents put up with? What confidence does anyone have in the public school system any more? There is nothing more precious to us than our kids. These people have gone way too far.

      Good Lord, help us.

      Report Post » TumbleBumble  
  • UpstateNYConservative
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:39pm

    Notice how liberals will kidnap your children and ‘teach’ them things on their own because their cause is ‘just’ and therefor above the law.

    I’d be screaming bloody murder if one of my children was taken hostage, and be demanding this guy be prosecuted for felony kidnapping, illegal imprisonment, and every other other charge I can get before a grand jury. The teachers, too, for not trying to prevent a felony.

    And then the civil suits would start, against the school board (collectively and individually), the county, and everyone else I can get to.

    Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • PoohbearA2
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:52pm

      I’ve never let my kids go on a field trip without me for just the reasons you outlined. They feel justified to do whatever they want, whenever they want.

      Report Post » PoohbearA2  
  • eat-more-bacon-USA
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:37pm

    Well, Mr. Pleune, it appears that you were hired as a bus driver – not a “community organizer” – Breaking the rules and possibly endangering children is unacceptable – poor decisions have consequences. If you want to show support for some enviro-nut who is on trial, you should do it on your own time and don’t drag others into your misguided little fantasies.

    Report Post » eat-more-bacon-USA  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:37pm

    the driver AND the chaperon teachers perhaps could have KIDNAPPING charges filed.

    do something like that a few times, stuff like this might stop. maybe a civil suit or two for political indoctrination.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • fedlibertarian
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:33pm

    Brain dead moron like so many of the mental defects teaching in schools have no clue that we live in a REPUBLIC not DEMOCRACY; forget about being able to explain the difference. Losers.

    Report Post » fedlibertarian  
  • Lindarm
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:31pm

    What this man did is kidnapping.

    Report Post »  
  • southernloyalty
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:31pm

    Well he’s out of a job, I guess he can go join the protest now cause he hasn’t got anything else to do. Do what libs do best Pluene, WHINE.

    Report Post »  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:54pm

      I think he knew EXACTLY what he was doing…..Tomorrow he’ll be @ UNemployment Office getting 99 weeks of TAX payers money and he’ll be at the courthouse singing and protesting for his friend…..
      Chrissy Matthews will make him into a hero……Excuse me but I now have to throw up…..

      Report Post »  
  • Highland
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:28pm

    Why is this guy a bus driver if he’s a trained, experienced teacher? Something doesn’t make sense.

    Report Post » Highland  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:41pm

      he did not make tenure.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Petunia
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:00pm

      Well since he kidnapped a bus full of children it does make sense. Someone knew better than to keep him in teaching. He should now be banned from bus driving as well.

      Report Post »  
    • Tnredneck
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:12pm

      The so called trained teacher says he wanted to see how free speech works in our “democracy”. No wonder he’s driving the bus and should be reminded that we are a “republic”.

      Report Post »  
  • chickenfried
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:25pm

    Let me get this straight….he was a teacher but is now (or was) a bus driver? And where did he get that “county jail” orange neckwear? And what the heck kind of name is Pleune? And why do I give a rat’s ass?

    Report Post » chickenfried  
  • dealer@678
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:25pm

    Is he the 12th imam

    Report Post »  
  • dealer@678
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:24pm

    Im not gonna take the time to read this article because i know its bad

    Report Post »  
  • LilHarley
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:23pm

    I’m from Utah. If my child was taken there it would be ME that would have taken her. It is NOT up to the bus driver to decide what my child needs to see and be a part of. I am not a “Tree Hugger” and this was something that I would have NOT attended. I agree with these parents that want to persue more against him. Did they let you know that it was his first AND last day as a school bus driver?? It is NOT up to him to teach my child about life…thats MY job and I’m doing a darn good one at that! Just drive the bus and be grateful for the job!!!
    (former bus driver)

    Report Post » LilHarley  
    • Robert-CA
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:29pm

      Remember what Al Gore said “your parents don’t know” so apparently the bus driver knows more than the parents about what should be done .
      Lib loons @ their best & that’s the beginning .
      USSR is here among us .

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • OutOfTheAether
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 11:34am

      Amen

      Report Post » OutOfTheAether  
  • broker0101
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:23pm

    This act may actually not go unpunished, since it occurred in Utah. In about 47 of the other loser 48…. no chance of punishment.

    Report Post » broker0101  
    • broker0101
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:28pm

      …Lower 48. Typo or Freudian slip. You be the judge.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • sherminator
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:38pm

      I thought there were 57??!

      Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:53pm

      Yeah, Broker. Your IDOL thinks that there are 57 states. Wouldn’t surprise me if Obama has already divided up the larger ones to make 57, to match his Islamic Muslim training.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:54pm

      I left you a question at the previous story.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:59pm

      @Showtime

      I bet Obow (and broken0000) think Kenya is one of those 57 states. Or are they mixing up those numbers with Heinz Foods products?

      The idiocy of liberals is so rampant, common, and ever-increasing it’s hard to keep up any more.

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:55pm

      @SHOW

      Is that picture your chihuahua? They only show up part of time on my screen .. I just saw it on another article.

      Report Post »  
    • Kurty C Wipe
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 12:20am

      For the third time Broker, pull your head out and LISTEN to one of greatest leaders of your party. If you don’t understand, this is no hope or change for you little girl!
      Ideologies aren’t all that important. What’s important is psychology.

      The Democratic constituency is just like a herd of cows. All you have to do is lay out enough silage and they come running. That’s why I became an operative working with Democrats. With Democrats all you have to do is make a lot of noise, lay out the hay, and be ready to use the ole cattle prod in case a few want to bolt the herd.

      Eighty percent of the people who call themselves Democrats don’t have a clue as to political reality.
      What amazes me is that you could take a group of people who are hard workers and convince them that they should support social programs that were the exact opposite of their own personal convictions. Put a little fear here and there and you can get people to vote any way you want.

      The voter is basically dumb and lazy. The reason I became a Democratic operative instead of a Republican was because there were more Democrats that didn’t have a clue than there were Republicans.

      Truth is relative. Truth is what you can make the voter believe is the truth. If you’re smart enough, truth is what you make the voter think it is. That‘s why I’m a Democrat. I can make the Democratic voters think whatever I want them to.”
      James Carville quote

      Report Post » Kurty C Wipe  
    • Lord_Frostwind
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 1:23am

      This clown should have remembered, in the reddest of the reds, we don’t tolerate this kind of hippie lunacy. You want to go stand at the rally, be our guest, jacking the kids on a bus to go parade them in front of it, now we don’t take kindly to that notion at all. Don’t feel too bad for him, I’m sure he can go find a job at Sugarhouse or at the U of U, Utah’s two liberal enclaves.

      Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
  • PoohbearA2
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:22pm

    Why aren’t the teachers out of work also? Oh, that’s right, tenure.

    Report Post » PoohbearA2  
    • drbage
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:36pm

      Tenure which means that it is ALMOST impossible to fire them and, of course, very expensive! I wonder if any parents in Wisconsin, whose children were taken to the Capitol to witness the union protests, will have anything to say…

      Report Post »  
    • SLEUTH
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:40pm

      Fired? that was ‘kidnapping’ . oh i forgot, thats no big deal. if you murder someone you get a few years in the pen. if you you rob a bank you get three times as much (money is more important then someone’s life) and of course if you are caught with a little ‘pot’ for yourself…..you get LIFE. what a country. its gonna get worse if we dont get rid of these progressive liberals.

      Report Post » SLEUTH  
    • GrannyATL
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:53pm

      Very interesting. He was a high school teacher and now he’s a bus driver. Wonder what he did in his past that got him so badly demoted.

      Typical Progressive. Thinks that the rules don’t apply to him — can’t handle responsibility.

      Report Post » GrannyATL  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:00pm

      If the teachers are found to be complicent along with the driver, then they also need to be released from service to the school, in short, terminated for violation of services.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:03pm

      More indoctrination from the socialists, oh I mean educators …. no I mean Socialists! Vouchers NOW!

      Report Post »  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:29pm

      ” I wanted to show them that peaceful demonstration is a right in our democracy.”

      We are not a Democracy because Democracies aren’t free. We are a representative Republic. We elect people who will run government according to our Constitution, and as long as they do that, it is our elected officials who make the decisions, not us.

      Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:34pm

      I wonder what would have happened if the protest turned violent, like so many of the protesters are calling for. Those children would have been caught right in the middle of it. And God forbid someone got hurt or killed. What an absolute idiot that bus driver was!

      It’s not up to the bus driver to decide whether or not a political event is a “teachable moment”. That’s for the parents to decide. But wait, I forgot. In socialist countries, the children are wards of the State. Silly me.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:36pm

      What would have happened to him if he took them to a church to pray, because he wanted to show them christianity, or to a gay club to show them an alternate lifestyle? This guy needs to be in jail, NOW.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 12:01am

      My question also, why were the teachers on the bus fired also – oh wait – union members!!
      http://wp.me/pYLB7-HF

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 12:36am

      Look, the children are indoctrinated in the classroom and out of the classroom, nothing new here. It shouldn’t happen but it probably the rule, not the exception.

      CHEEZ, great links as usual.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 1:20am

      Wait just a frikin minute, is not that kid napping.

      Report Post »  
    • Mikeyyy
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 1:21am

      Don’t throw the teachers under the bus too. I seriously doubt they had anything to do with the extra activity. To draw that conclusion that the teachers were in collusion is very shallow.

      Report Post »  
    • cozmo
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 1:47am

      finally a doctors labor is not my right somebody got it. we are not a democracy and never have been.

      Report Post »  
    • SonOfaCommunist
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 5:05am

      It was a field trip people!!! We can do that you know!

      Report Post » SonOfaCommunist  
    • RedHarley
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 5:50am

      @sonafa……
      It was a field trip, so the bus driver can take the kids anywhere he wants. Sure,,,,,,,Hey boys and girls, we’re gonna stop by the liquor store and a porno shop on the way back to school so you can see the real world.

      This little commie is in complete agreement with the loser who was screwing with oil and gas lease auctions. I can only assume it is because he is against the use of oil and gas and their products…..so he DRIVES HIS BUS to the protest. That makes perfect sense to the looney left.

      Report Post » RedHarley  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 8:35am

      The teachers should at least receive a disciplinary letter in their file for allowing that side trip to happen. If one of them had spoken up they would have gone straight back to school; at least the parents spoke up which means they are paying attention.

      Report Post »  
    • taskmaster78
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 9:29am

      It looks like Ryan‘s going to have a bit of time to become a full time protester and did anyone note that he’s an arrogant dimwit. He stood proud of what he did, yet God forbid if this detour would have put the school bus in a place where an accident happened. Would he have been so smug in his stand. This is what this idiot doesn’t understand. Every minute that is spent driving is one more minute that one exposes themselves to getting into and accident. Law of average.

      Report Post »  
    • KaptainKody
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 11:07am

      Has anyone else noticed the common thread among these “protester/revolutionaries” that are running amok all over the country. Not a single one of them either has or job or has the discipline and mental capacity to keep a job for longer than a day as evidenced by this moronic bus driver! What their really protesting, is the ability to live off the middle-class tax payers good graces and sucking the hind tit of society!

      Report Post »  
    • OutOfTheAether
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 11:31am

      And WHY aren’t the teachers under fire as well. They may not be able to be fired due to union rules or some other crap, by they can certainly be given administrative leave without pay – that is certainly within the purview of the school district.

      Report Post » OutOfTheAether  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 3, 2011 at 7:51pm

      There are major insurance issues regarding driving students to and from events, which is why a bus driver can not let a student off the bus even though they pass right by his driveway on the way home from a sporting event. It would be interesting to see if the bus company could also be sued because their driver took them to an unauthorized event.

      As for the teachers, well, I’m not sure how culpable they are since they were also passengers on the bus. They are responsible for student behavior, but not necessarily for the bus driver’s behavior (unless he’s obviously drunk or stoned, in which case, I think if they didn’t stop him, they’d be liable for reckless endangerment).

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
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