Black Ice Delays School, But One Bus Driver Turns It Into a Morning His Students Will Never Forget
Black ice is no joke. Anyone who’s ever driven or even walked across it knows how treacherous it can be. That’s why it wasn’t surprising when Shelby County officials made the call to delay school for safety reasons, giving the roads time to thaw.
However, not everyone got the memo in time.
Wayne Price, a seasoned bus driver for Montevallo Elementary School in Montevallo, Alabama, had already begun his route early that morning. By the time he realized school was delayed, his bus was already filled with children, bundled up against the cold and expecting to head straight to their classrooms.
Wayne had a decision to make. Dropping the kids back home seemed risky—the roads weren’t getting any safer, and retracing the route might only increase the chances of an accident. Parking the bus and leaving dozens of restless kids to their own devices didn’t seem like a great option either.
So, Wayne did something completely unexpected.
With a twinkle of mischief in his eye—something his colleagues were all too familiar with—he turned the wheel and headed not to school, and not back home, but to a local McDonald’s.
His young passengers, confused and excited, likely thought their driver had lost track of where he was supposed to go. But when the bus rolled to a stop and Wayne turned to them with a grin, they realized something special was happening.
He treated every single child on that bus to breakfast. Warm biscuits, paid for out of his own pocket, as a substitute for the school breakfast they’d now miss.
For Wayne, it wasn’t about making headlines. It was simply about doing something kind. But that small act of generosity didn’t go unnoticed.
According to Montevallo Elementary School, Wayne had as many as 40 to 50 students on his bus that morning. Covering breakfast for that many kids wasn’t cheap, but to Wayne, it was worth every penny.
The school took to Facebook to celebrate his actions, posting:
“Mr. Price, one of our bus drivers, truly demonstrates the spirit of Christmas! On Tuesday, when school was delayed due to icy roads and we weren’t able to serve breakfast, he purchased biscuits from McDonald’s for his entire bus of students! What a kind act that our students will forever remember!”
Word of Wayne’s generosity quickly spread beyond the small Alabama town. People from all over the country—and even around the world—have since shared the story, sending Wayne kind words, messages of gratitude, and admiration for his compassion.
In a time when the world can feel heavy and uncertain, Wayne Price proved that one thoughtful decision can change the course of a day—and maybe even inspire others to do the same.
What a genuinely nice thing to do, and what a way to go above and beyond for the children he so obviously cares about!