Unknown youths attack student on school bus

HOUSTON -- Alaska State Troopers are looking for two youths who boarded a school bus bound for Houston High School on Thursday morning and assaulted a student.

According to troopers' reports, the 17-year-old student was punched in the face, shoulder and head by the two unknown assailants while the school bus was on its way to school. The youths reportedly fled the scene by the time troopers arrived at the school just after 9 a.m.

Witnesses described the juvenile suspects to troopers as males, both tall and slender, one wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt while the other wore a red hooded sweatshirt.

Troopers report that the investigation is ongoing and are asking that anyone who has information about

the incident contact the troopers at 745-2131.

According to Mat-Su school district spokesperson Kim Floyd, the district's first concern is the safety of the students.

"This has traditionally been a difficult bus route," said Floyd on Friday. "We have had behavioral issues on it in the past."

Floyd said that it did not appear at this time that the youths were students who should have been on the bus.

"We had a new driver on the route and it was his first day on the job," she explained. "They were waiting at a regular stop."

The school district is cooperating fully with the investigation into the incident, according to Floyd. She added that Houston High School Assistant Principal Phil Milton is meeting Friday with the district's transportation supervisor and with the supervisor of school bus contractor, First Student Inc.

"They will review the incident and implement additional safety measures to safeguard students," said Floyd.

Officials from Houston High School and from the transportation departments for the district and for First Student met Friday morning to discuss an action plan to improve student safety on that route, according to Floyd. At that meeting it was decided that a letter would be sent home asking parents to talk to their children about appropriate behavior on the bus. Houston principals will meet with students from that route on Monday.

Also, according to Floyd, a camera will be installed on the bus, and an adult aide will also ride the route to add more adult supervision. One other precaution will be that a regular substitute driver will be assigned to the route who is familiar with the students in the event the regular driver is out.