A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools bus driver was arrested for DWI while on duty last week. Court records show additional child abuse misdemeanor charges have been added.

Name: Sylvia Ann Dollard
Age: 70
Charge(s): DWI (misdemeanor) Note: there are five levels of DWI charges in NC; Aggravated Level 1 is most serious. It is unclear yet which level Dollard has been charged with.
Charge Type(s): (View DWI License Revocation Chart)

Charge(s): 10 counts of misdemeanor child abuse (Class A1) have appeared in the court records since her arrest for DWI. The release order cites a $15,000 secured bond associated with these charged.
Charge Type(s): (View Sentencing Chart)

Additional court cases for Dollard per eCourts records:
2022: Speeding; doing 40 in a 25 zone, improper speedometer equipment. Case was disposed of; she paid $266 in fines.
2006: Expired tags. Case was disposed of.
1997: Speeding; doing 65 in a 45 zone. Case was disposed of.

Arrest Date: 8-29-24
Bond Details: $50,000 unsecured; posted per court records on the DWI. $15,000 secured bond on the misdemeanor child abuse charges.

Victim /Case Details: 

Arrested by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Dept.
Police report says Dollard was driving erratically.
A license revocation order was placed according to the court records.

Students on the bus reported to their parents that Dollard was hitting her brakes, missing bus stops, was driving in circles, and ran stop signs.  Of the 21 students on the bus, two were injured.

According to WCNC, Parents had to intervene and stop Dollard, with an SUV blocking the bus’s path. Watch the report:

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Public Schools
Current Role: Bus Driver, Oakdale Elementary School
History: Hired in 2014
Employment status: Suspended with pay as of Aug. 30, per district.

Statement from District:
No official statement issued by district. Media outlets reported
CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill made the following comment on Aug. 30:  “The school principal was on site, we contacted parents immediately. All the children were safe and they were either picked up by their parents on-site or transported by another school bus.”

Oakdale Elementary School message to parents:

“Good evening, Oakdale Elementary, this is Principal Dr. Sharrone Powell reaching out to inform you about an incident that occurred this afternoon with bus 1680.  We received a report that the driver of the bus was driving erratically in a neighborhood. Transportation services were alerted, and police arrived on scene along with transportation managers and school leadership. Some students on board the bus were taken safely home on another bus. Some parents who arrived at the scene took their children home in their own vehicles.
Your child may have been impacted by this incident. They may feel a variety of emotions: they may be scared, shocked, or confused. What is most important is that we care for and support them. The Crisis Response Team is available to respond to the emotional needs.
We take this matter seriously as the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. Thank you for your continued support of Oakdale Elementary.”

NC Teacher License Information: Not applicable.