Beech Tree News Network

MORGANTOWN — Clinging to her teacher’s hand at Morgantown Elementary School, a tiny girl with ringlets of pale blonde hair was brought to the office Tuesday morning to speak to a grief counselor about the tragic loss of her schoolmate, Jayden Hawkins.

Jayden, 5, a kindergarten student, was struck and killed by a Butler County Schools bus Monday afternoon after he exited the bus in front of his grandmother’s home, Kentucky State Police Post 3 spokesman Trooper B.J. Eaton said.

“Even though they are not our biological children, they are our own kids,” Principal Chad Flener said. “When they hurt – his classmates are hurting – that hurts us.”

The district brought in grief counselors for both the students and employees. Teachers who walked the halls Tuesday morning appeared visibly upset, some with their eyes swollen from tears.

“We’re a very small community,” Flener said. “Teachers here, this is their calling. There is no class at Western (Kentucky University) or professional development that would prepare you for something like this.”

Flener held back tears as he talked about Jayden, one of the nearly 700 students at the pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade school.

“He was a very bright little boy who had a huge impact on his class and his teachers,” Flener said. “He was very sweet, kind and loving.

“We want to send our condolences to the family and know they are in our prayers,” Flener said.

At 3:22 p.m. Monday, state police were called to Ky. 70 about 4 miles west of Morgantown, where the child was killed, Eaton said.

Jayden was pronounced dead at 3:37 p.m., according to KSP and Butler County Coroner Marty Jones.

Janine Dockery, 54, of Morgantown, was driving the bus, according to a KSP news release issued Monday.

Dockery is an 18-year veteran of the school system with an “exemplary” driving record, according to a news release from the school system.

Dockery asked for a voluntarily leave, which she was granted, and will remain on leave pending the outcome of an investigation, Superintendent Scott Howard said Tuesday morning. That leave is currently paid.

“Of course they’re hurting,” Howard said of the district’s bus drivers. “Our main focus is trying to support all of our kids and our staff.”

Jayden lived at the home where he was dropped off Monday afternoon, Howard said.

In the district of about 2,100 students, about 1,500 ride buses every day, Howard said. Howard has been employed by the district for 19 years and doesn’t recall any other deaths involving school buses within the district.

The district is cooperating with the investigation, Howard said.

As a routine part of the investigation, state police have taken the bus to examine it, Eaton said.

The district follows all Kentucky Department of Education guidelines for the regular inspection and maintenance of buses, Howard said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family,” Howard said. “We want to be there for them and help them in any way we can.”

Smith Funeral Home will be handling Jayden’s funeral.

By Deborah Highland
Bowling Green Daily News

Kentucky Press News Service