Staff Members Save Students from Harm

 November 16 was a special day for students from School # 5. Actually permitted to go on a field trip, an almost unheard of activity in the current district situation, to the Liberty Science Center, they enjoyed a day of learning outside of their classrooms and left for the return trip to Paterson.

Joyce Huster and Adalgisa Toro, two of the School # 5 staff members who accompanied classes to the Center were passengers in the second bus in the caravan, when suddenly things turned from happy to almost tragic.

Traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike in moderate traffic, Huster noticed that the driver of the bus had slumped to the side and was apparently unconscious. She turned to her partner, Toro and said "Oh my God, we don't have a driver!" Huster got up to try to assist the driver when there was a sudden and very loud "Boom". The bus jumped, having hit the guard rail for the first time, and Huster was thrown back, landing on top of Toro. They regained their footing and tried to make their way to the fallen driver.

The bus was out of control as the two teachers battled the forces of gravity, falling from side to side as the bus careened ahead. Despite injuries from being thrown about, both continued their efforts to save the bus and the children riding with them.

As they reached for the steering wheel, the bus hit the guard rail for the second time, throwing Toro into the bus door where she injured her back, neck, leg, hand and elbow. While still on the ground, she yelled to Huster to "grab the steering wheel." Huster was thrown forward and nearly went through the front window as the children screamed in terror.

Toro recovered and despite the pain she felt, was able to climb over the fallen driver, reach the steering wheel and brake and stop the bus. In excruciating pain, Huster went to see if the children were injured. Most were screaming, shaking and crying, not only from the fear of the incident, but also out of concern for the fallen bus driver.

The other buses and a truck driver stopped to help. Teachers from the other buses in the caravan ran to the bus. Toro was shaking and crying. Teachers tried to calm her and the children in the bus. Police and EMT units responded quickly, trying not only to revive the stricken bus driver but also questioning staff and students as to their injuries. Both Toro and Huster were asked if they wanted to go to the hospital. However, keeping in mind the emotional state of their children, they declined and accompanied them to School # 5. Both were eventually taken to St. Joe's-Wayne where they were treated for their injuries and given medication for the pain from their falls and injuries. Typical of the way things work in the Paterson Public Schools, and despite their tremendous pain and discomfort, these two heroes were given one comp day and told to report to work by the "doctors" at ImmediCenter, and were forced to use sick days when they were unable to return. P.E.A. is working with them to have those days restored.

Toro and Huster are heroes. They saved not only the children on their bus, but those on the following buses and countless people in their cars and trucks on the Turnpike from what could have been an unthinkable tragedy.

Both Huster and Toro are long term teachers in Paterson; part of the "ugly culture" of the District. P.E.A. is proud of them and congratulates them for their heroic actions.