A short stop on a quiet Maryland road has divided a community. School bus driver Cynthia Morgan pulled over to let a student rescue an injured kitten. Days later, she was told she could no longer drive.
What Happened on Heaps School Road
According to The Baltimore Sun and CBS affiliate WJZ, 10-year-old Alex Thomas spotted a tiny kitten along Heaps School Road in Pylesville, Harford County, and Morgan stopped the bus and told him to go get it. Alex, the only child on the bus at the time, held the kitten for the rest of the ride to North Harford Elementary School. After he got off, Morgan kept the animal.
Why She Was Removed
Morgan, who had driven for Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) for 11 years, said the district told her afterward that she could no longer work as a bus driver. A letter from the school system cited a video review showing that she let a student leave the bus to get a cat from the road and allowed the animal to stay on board. The Sun reported the letter also referred to multiple incidents.
HCPS said it cannot discuss the certification status of individual drivers. It said in a statement that student safety “remains our top priority” and that certification decisions often involve multiple circumstances and requirements. The district also noted that Morgan worked for an independent contractor, which the outlets identified as Cleary Transportation Inc.
The Community Responds
Parents are not letting it go quietly. A Change.org petition to reinstate Morgan, started by community member Julie Long, had passed 1,500 signatures by October 10. It describes Morgan as someone children look forward to seeing every day, and says her removal is a loss for the whole community.
Alex’s mother, Taffy Thomas, said she is “100 percent behind” Morgan and that her son “would have been devastated” to leave the kitten behind. Parent Carolyn Kalambihis told WJZ that termination felt excessive, though she acknowledged the stop raised real concerns. “It’s definitely a concern for safety,” she said, adding that Morgan likely knows she made a mistake.
Rules Versus Kindness
The story raises a familiar tension. School bus rules generally bar students from getting off anywhere except their assigned stops, in part because roadsides can be dangerous. Parents argue that the road was rural and quiet and that the driver used good judgment. The district says its decision rests on safety and on more than a single factor. The kitten’s fate has not been widely reported.
Found an Injured Kitten? What to Do and What It Costs
If you or your child find an injured animal, the safest approach is to act with an adult:
- Call a vet or animal control. Stay out of traffic and call a veterinarian or local animal rescue for advice.
- Keep the kitten warm. Wrap it in a towel, and offer kitten milk replacer, never cow’s milk, if it’s very young.
- Plan for vet bills. Emergency exams and treatment add up, so many owners compare kitten pet insurance plans.
- Supply basics. A new kitten needs kitten food, a litter box, a carrier and flea treatment.
- Help from home. If you can’t adopt, a donation to a local cat rescue or fostering supports injured animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cynthia Morgan? An 11-year bus driver for Harford County Public Schools in Maryland, employed by a contractor, who was removed from her route.
What did she do? She stopped her bus so a 10-year-old student could pick up an injured kitten from the road.
What does the school district say? It says student safety is its top priority and that decertification decisions involve multiple factors.
Is there a petition? Yes. Community members started a Change.org petition to reinstate her, which had more than 1,500 signatures as of October 10.
Sources: The Baltimore Sun, WJZ (CBS Baltimore), CP24, and PEOPLE, all covering Harford County bus driver Cynthia Morgan’s removal after she let a student rescue a kitten on Heaps School Road in Maryland.
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