A DeKalb County parent was arrested following a scuffle with administrators at a Lithonia elementary school, related to a bus driver sickout that caused massive delays as some buses showed up late, if at all.

Officials said Patrice Fayson Brumfield was charged with disorderly conduct and simple battery.

Teachers said Brumfield was upset with the delay in picking up her child. She was greeted by dozens more cars than usual on Thursday, the result of a bus driver sickout where about 400 drivers called out that day to bring awareness to their concerns with pay and benefits and working conditions.

Flat Rock Elementary School (Courtesy of the DeKalb County School District)
icon to expand image

According to an incident report, Brumfield went to the school’s cafeteria to retrieve her daughter, but was told by Principal Malik Douglas to return to her car. Brumfield told police the principal then put his hands on her, bringing her into the school. Douglas told police Brumfield pushed her way into the school, shoving him in the process.

Some buses were delayed by the sickout. Some parents were forced to pick up their children when their buses never showed up.

District officials said the arrest was not related to the sickout.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Uta Thomas picks up her son, Jax, during a public hearing in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. She implored the school board not to close Dunbar Elementary. 
"You would centralize education to decentralized families," she said. "You would break apart a community hub." (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Featured

Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com