Juniata County bus driver fired after posting English-only bus sign; DOJ Civil Rights investigation opened
Diane Crawford, a 66-year-old bus driver in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, was dismissed after posting an “English-only” sign forbidding Spanish on her bus — a move that prompted a U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division probe and heated local debate.
- Driver fired: Diane Crawford was suspended then terminated after posting a sign forbidding Spanish; district and contractor say this violated transportation standards. (KTXS, ABC33/40, Local21News)
- Federal review: The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division announced a review of the firing on Dec. 22, 2025; no public findings were available at publication. (KTXS)
- Community split: A petition for reinstatement gathered 1,000+ signatures while the district and contractor defended the termination and prior training. (Local21News, KTXS)
What happened
Diane Crawford — a longtime school bus driver contracted through Rohrer Bus for the Juniata County School District — posted a note on her bus reading: “Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus.” The district and contractor say she was suspended and then fired after an investigation found her conduct violated standards for student transportation providers. (KTXS, ABC33/40, Local21News)
Federal probe
On Dec. 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, announced an investigation to determine whether federal civil-rights laws were implicated by Crawford’s firing and the school district’s actions. The announcement was shared on X after a repost of local coverage; no public updates were available as of Dec. 22, 2025. (KTXS)
Driver’s claim
Crawford says the sign targeted one bilingual student who repeatedly “riled up” other students by speaking Spanish and who, she alleges, had bullied her and classmates. She maintains she intended the note as a warning to protect other students and that she was not allowed to explain that context before termination.
Financial impact: Crawford says she purchased a bus and route in 2024 and is seeking $30,000 in reimbursement, plus an admission that she did nothing wrong. (KTXS, ABC33/40, Local21News)
School and contractor response
Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus issued a joint statement saying their investigation followed procedure, noting Crawford admitted installing the sign and that her conduct violated transportation provider standards. They emphasized student well-being, referenced prior training with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and stood by the termination. (KTXS, ABC33/40, Local21News)
Local reaction
Reactions in the community were split. A petition seeking Crawford’s rehiring gathered more than 1,000 signatures. Crawford described the firing as a “nightmare,” saying she now relies on Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP and antidepressants after 35 years on the job. Local coverage includes a video segment featuring Crawford’s account. (Local21News, KTXS, YouTube video)
Why the sign drew scrutiny
The phrase “English-only” carries legal and cultural weight in school settings. Officials said the sign singled out Spanish-speaking students and conflicted with policies meant to keep transportation settings inclusive and safe. The district and contractor emphasized that student behavior should be addressed through school discipline channels and anti-bullying procedures — not by a driver posting a directive that could be seen as targeting a protected language group. (KTXS, ABC33/40)
Crawford’s account and livelihood concerns
Crawford, who says she worked as a driver for 35 years, said she had previously asked for help with student behavior and felt overlooked. She says she intended the note as a targeted warning and that removal from the route was abrupt — she was taken off the route overnight and later terminated after submitting a written statement. Crawford says termination has affected her financially and emotionally and that she seeks reimbursement for the bus and route she bought. (KTXS, Local21News)
Federal review and political context
The DOJ Civil Rights review, announced under Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, will examine whether the district’s actions unlawfully targeted a protected class, and whether proper disciplinary steps were followed. The announcement drew national attention amid broader debates about language, race and school policy. (KTXS)
Community response and training history
Locally, responses split. The petition to reinstate Crawford gathered more than 1,000 signatures. School officials pointed to prior district training with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on April 17, 2025, and said they followed established procedures. Rohrer Bus and the district stressed their commitment to an inclusive environment on buses and in schools. (Local21News, KTXS, ABC33/40)
Legal and school-policy issues to watch
Legal experts note that DOJ reviews typically consider whether actions unlawfully targeted a protected class (including language tied to national origin), whether employers followed disciplinary procedures, and whether bullying complaints were investigated and documented. The federal review could determine if civil-rights laws were violated or if the district’s actions fell within permissible safety and discipline measures. (KTXS)
Implications for Las Vegas, Nevada
School-transportation policies: Area districts may review bus-driver rules, training on language use, bullying and student discipline, and clarify reporting channels for disruptive behavior.
Civil-rights enforcement and local politics: A small-district DOJ review shows federal attention can extend beyond large systems; Las Vegas stakeholders may expect transparent procedures and fair investigations.
Classroom and community cohesion: With many bilingual families locally, the case underlines the need for multilingual communication, clear anti-bullying practices and policies that protect students without singling out language groups.
Practical impact on drivers and contractors: Drivers may seek clearer reporting paths, de-escalation training and protections from retaliation; contractors and districts could reinforce incident documentation and training.
Public trust and messaging: The incident shows how a single sign can escalate nationally; timely, clear messaging is essential to maintain community trust and explain investigative steps and supports for students and staff.
Sources and reporting notes
This account draws on reporting by Times Media Service and local outlets. Key sources used in this article include:
Reporting team sought comment from the Juniata County School District, Rohrer Bus and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. The district and Rohrer Bus provided statements defending the investigation and the firing. The DOJ announced the probe publicly on Dec. 22, 2025; no further public updates were available at the time of publication.
Note: All facts, statements and URLs in this piece are preserved from original reporting sources cited above.
