school bus driver under DUI investigation was previously fired for smelling of alcohol at another district
ELKHART, Ind. (WNDU) – The woman at the center of an ongoing Indiana State Police investigation into whether an Elkhart Community Schools bus driver transported students while under the influence of alcohol had previously been fired from a neighboring district for a similar issue, according to public records.
The investigation involves Lisa Wig and remains active.
Records obtained by WNDU 16 News Now’s I-Team show that Concord Community Schools hired Wig as a bus monitor on Sept. 8, 2021. Exactly one month later, on Oct. 8, 2021, the district reported that Wig arrived at work smelling of alcohol and was immediately terminated.
Elkhart Community Schools officials confirmed that Wig was hired in December 2021 — just over two months after her dismissal from Concord. District leaders told the I-Team they were unaware of her prior termination at the time of hiring. They later confirmed that the individual involved in both cases is the same person.
In a statement issued Feb. 13, Elkhart Community Schools said that on Jan. 23, between bus routes, a transportation employee was reported by another staff member for suspected impairment and was immediately removed from duty.
The district also confirmed Wig was sent for alcohol testing following the report. She has been placed on unpaid administrative leave since the incident.
The statement added that the district is conducting an internal review of its procedures. “Any concern involving student safety is taken seriously, and we will continue to evaluate our response to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place,” the district said.
Letter to Families
Elkhart Community Schools Director of Communication Wendy Wood confirmed that the district sent a letter to families explaining the situation and outlining steps being taken.
In the letter, district officials stated that Wig met all state and federal requirements for background checks and licensing at the time of her 2021 hire. However, an internal review identified a gap in the hiring process.
Specifically, the district acknowledged that a thorough verbal reference check with a past supervisor was not completed.
“While we met the legal requirements for employment three years ago, we did not meet the higher internal standards we expect for those who transport our students,” the letter stated.
The superintendent is now leading an investigation into both the Human Resources and Transportation departments. The review includes an audit of hiring files across all time periods to ensure vetting procedures have been consistently applied.
District leadership said the superintendent will present findings to the school board and community within 30 days. The report will detail where procedures fell short and outline changes to hiring and oversight protocols.
The letter also recognized the staff member who reported the suspected impairment, crediting that individual’s vigilance for allowing the situation to be addressed quickly.
What Comes Next
The Elkhart Community Schools board is scheduled to vote on Wig’s termination at a public meeting Tuesday night. WNDU plans to attend.
The I-Team also asked Concord Community Schools whether it reported the reason for Wig’s termination to the Indiana Department of Education. It appears state law may not require districts to report such information, and clarification has been requested from the state.
Once the Indiana State Police completes its investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
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