Field trip students involved in scuffle

TOLEDO, Ohio - On a Nov. 11 field trip in Toledo, some Blissfield school students faced a confrontation outside El Tipico Restaurant on South Avenue.

According to the police report, unknown suspects threw rocks at the school bus, breaking the rear passenger side window.

“It’s disappointing that we had an incident of this nature on what was supposed to be a positive trip for the students,” said Scott Mollenberndt, superintendent of Blissfield schools.

Around 6:30 p.m. as students were getting back on to the bus, two unknown school-age suspects approached the bus, Moellenberndt said. One threw a rock breaking a back window, while the other stood on the back bumper and tried to get in through the emergency door. It was unclear if any verbal exchanged happened prior to the event, he said.

The broken window was made of safety glass so no one was injured when it shattered.

The 33 Spanish 1 students were on a field trip to Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center for the Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, observance. Following the event they went to eat at El Tipico Restaurant.

Moellenberndt said the incident could have happened to anyone, anywhere and would not keep the school from continually supporting the Day of the Dead celebration.

“I don’t think the incident will keep us from coming back. There’s an educational value to cultural center,” Moellenberndt said. “However, next time we may have to revisit where we eat or the time of day we come to visit.”

(The Toledo Free Press is a FOX Toledo News media partner)