Lee school’s top choice to head transportation turns down role

Plagued with controversy, from bus stop safety to late pickups and drop-offs, to buses never showing up at all, School District of Lee County has had its fair share of transportation issues.

Now, the district’s top choice to lead the department turned down the job offer. That comes after controversy about his past resurfaced at the school board meeting this week.

Superintendent Greg Adkins picked John Franklin, former head of the transportation department in Hillsborough County. But during that time, a 7-year-old student with special needs stopped breathing because she was not properly positioned on a school bus, and she died the next day. Surveillance video showed this happen on the bus, and staff never called 911 or performed CPR.

The school board revolted against the choice after learning about the incident, and the district said Franklin turned down the job offer.

The school district said it is evaluating more options and determining how to proceed.