HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — Parents in rural Harford County are asking school officials to reinstate longtime bus driver Cynthia Morgan after she was removed from her route for allowing a student to get off the bus and retrieve an injured kitten. Morgan, 67, had driven for Harford County Public Schools for 11 years. The student attends North Harford Elementary School. The incident occurred on Heaps School Road, where video shows little traffic, according to parents who say the rural setting is relevant to how the decision should be judged. Carolyn Kalambihis, whose children have ridden with Morgan for five years, said parents recognize that allowing a student off the bus raised a safety concern. But she and others believe ending Morgan’s route was an excessive response. They are circulating an online petition calling for her return. Kalambihis said Morgan understands that letting the student leave the bus was a mistake. She also described Morgan as a caring driver who has bought school supplies for students and given them gifts and birthday cards at her own expense. Harford County Public Schools said Morgan worked for an independent contractor rather than directly for the district. The school system is responsible for certifying drivers who transport its students, however. In a statement, the district said certification and decertification decisions can reflect multiple circumstances and requirements, and that student safety is its top priority. The district declined to discuss Morgan’s specific case. The parents’ petition argues that Morgan should be allowed to return to her North Harford route. The district has not publicly said whether it will reconsider the decision.