Internal Investigation

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By Nick Lough

Story Published: Jan 7, 2009 at 7:29 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 8, 2009 at 7:06 AM MST

BILLINGS - An internal investigation by the First Student school bus service concludes a school bus driver indeed purchased alcohol while on duty and tried to have students conceal it. Now, School District 2 officials are trying to figure out why.

Superintendent Jack Copps says district policy prohibits anyone from consuming, possessing, or distributing alcoholic beverages within the district. Copps says that policy extends outside of classrooms and onto school buses.

Police say on December 12th, bus driver Debbie Braunstadter was seen at a liquor store shortly before going to Riverside Elementary to drop off students. Investigators say she then tried to conceal the alcohol by passing it to students on the bus when officials questioned her.

"You can't make things like this up. If we were trying to think of something that could be one of the strangest things that could possibly happen in the school district this is it," said Copps.

Braunstader is no longer driving for first student. Investigators say they don't believe she was intoxicated while on duty. The city attorney is reviewing the case to see if charges could follow.

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Caring Citizen said on Saturday, Jan 10 at 11:21 AM

Okay, no criminal charges have been deemed appropriate. So let's stop judging her in the public forum and let her try to pick up the pieces of her life and go on. It is sad that 20 years of excellence is erased by what there is no denying, was extremely bad judgement in this one instance. She will punish herself much more than anyone else could anyway. Why don't we leave her alone now.

Mrs Public said on Wednesday, Jan 7 at 9:47 PM

You have a teachers who is a peeping Tom and teachers having sex in the gym & you say that this is the strangest thing that could possibly happen in the school district.. Where are your priorities?

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