An otherwise routine Thursday afternoon bus ride in Mukwonago took an unsettling turn on Feb. 26, when a parent boarded a Section Elementary school bus carrying a locked box that held a firearm, according to district officials. The gun stayed secured inside the lockbox for the entire route, was never taken out, and no students or staff were injured, the district told families.
School leaders said they are continuing to review what happened and will keep the community updated as needed.
District Alerts Families, Police Confirm Locked Firearm
Superintendent Dr. Joe Koch notified families that the parent got on the bus because of a reported personal safety concern, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. Mukwonago police investigated, and officers confirmed the parent was carrying a lockbox that contained a firearm, the station reported.
Officials told FOX6 News Milwaukee that the weapon stayed locked up the entire time and was never removed while students were on the bus. In other words, it was present but not handled.
Dousman Transport Operates Mukwonago Routes
The Mukwonago Area School District contracts with outside bus companies for student transportation and lists Dousman Transport as the carrier serving Section Elementary and other district schools. The transportation details and contact information for the bus company are posted on the district’s site, according to the Mukwonago Area School District. The operator’s own website outlines its Mukwonago terminal and local routes, Dousman Transport notes.
District Plans Protocol Review With Bus Company
In the wake of the incident, district officials said they are meeting with Dousman to re‑establish clear rules about when non‑students and non‑staff are allowed to ride on school buses and under what circumstances, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. The district also said it is reviewing its transportation contract to make sure expectations are spelled out in detail.
“Student and staff safety remain the district's top priority,” Dr. Koch wrote in his message to families, as relayed to FOX6 News Milwaukee. The district publicly thanked local law enforcement for their role in the investigation.
What Families Are Being Urged To Keep In Mind
Public‑health and pediatric experts say the safest home environment for a child is one without firearms. If guns are present, they recommend that weapons be stored unloaded, locked, and kept separate from ammunition, according to guidance from HealthyChildren.org.
The district highlights its “Speak Up, Speak Out” tipline and other safety tools as options for reporting concerns, the Mukwonago Area School District notes. Parents with questions about the bus incident were directed to contact either the district office or Dousman Transport.
District leaders say they will continue to update families as the police review moves forward. For now, officials are emphasizing that the firearm stayed in the locked box and that there were no reported injuries.
