Internal Investigation

Tools

Internal Investigation

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.

Wednesday, Jan 7 at 9:47 PM Mrs Public wrote ...

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?

Saturday, Jan 10 at 11:21 AM Caring Citizen wrote ...

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.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 44.0 °F
Fair
Wind : Southwest at
10.4 mph
Humidity : 32 %
Pressure : 29.51 in
More Weather

State Farm Sky Cam

More Weather

AP Video

On Demand

Stock Quotes
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Cast Your Vote

How will you shop this holiday season?

  • Spend More
  • Spend The Same
  • Spend Less

Links We Like