*NEW* School Bus Fight 2-20-2008
This video, shows a Newark,Ohio bus aide in a verbal and physical confrontation this week on a bus. The incident which lasted about seven minutes. This video clip starts about midway through an extended argument that began between a mother and the bus driver. The bus aide was on board due to the presence of handicapped students. Two students were on board at the time. Note: This video has been edited for length and the removal of a few seconds of audio because of profanity.
The video from Wednesday afternoon's Newark school bus incident, shows the mother getting on the bus to talk with the driver, then raising her voice as the aide joined the conversation. Two Excel Academy students in the back of the bus can be seen watching the incident. Newark Law Director Doug Sassen said his office is reviewing the charge.
The entire episode lasted about seven minutes, with the parent talking to the driver for about three minutes before the aide entered the conversation.
During the confrontation between the aide and the parent, the aide told the mother to get off the bus and points at her.
"You make me get off this bus," the mother said, shortly before telling the aide to get out of her face and pushing the aide's hand away.
The mother appeared to push the aide's hand away, and when the aide resisted, the mother shoved the aide backward and into one of the bus' seats. The aide kicked once at the mother, who caught her foot before letting her up again.
"I'm not talking to you," the mother yelled. "I'm talking to the bus driver."
The driver did not get involved in the altercation because she has a disability.
As of Friday, no charges have been filed against the mother, Sassen said.
His office received the complaint at 10:30 a.m. Friday, watched the video and discussed a possible minor misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.
More information on the charge should be available next week, Sassen said.
Dave Altepeter, director of classified personnel at Newark City Schools, said he couldn't recall any previous physical altercations between a parent and an employee on a school bus. He said parents have raised their voices at bus drivers and have complained about various issues.
The mother's issue with the bus driver stemmed from the driver not picking up her son in the morning. She said she has had trouble with the driver leaving before her son could get out to the bus.
Altepeter said the district has heard complaints from parents about the driver passing a house without picking up a child.
He said the driver needs to keep on a specific schedule and can't stop at every house and wait for students to walk out of the house and down to the bus stop. Children should be prepared to board the bus as it pulls up.
Contrary to what the aide said Thursday, Altepeter said parents are allowed to step up to school buses to talk with drivers and even can ride on a bus if they want to, with approval.
"If any parent ever wants to step on the bus, they can," he said.
Superintendent Keith Richards said the situation could have been avoided if the mother had contacted him about her complaints with the driver.
The aide, who is assigned to the bus because it carries students with disabilities, said she went to the hospital after the incident and was off work for the rest of the week. She is expected to return to work Monday, with her doctor's approval.
The district is not taking any disciplinary action against either the driver or the aide and said the incident is in the court's hands.
The mother has been charged with a minor misdemeanor of disorderly conduct and be arraigned at 12:45 p.m. March 5, according to the Licking County Municipal Court
The maximum penalty for the charge is $150, with no jail time, Law Director Doug Sassen said.
After watching the videotape of the incident, Sassen said the charge was warranted, instead of an assault charge.
"It doesn't appear to me that there is sufficient evidence (to pursue an assault charge)," he said. "I don't think she was trying to cause physical harm."
Sassen said a disorderly conduct charge means the woman was causing inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to the bus aide, with violent behavior.
An assault charge would have meant the woman had intended to harm the aide.
The incident happened Wednesday afternoon as the bus was dropping the woman's son off. She boarded the bus to speak with the driver about why her son wasn't picked up that morning.
About three minutes into that conversation, the bus aide, who had been attending to two Excel Academy students, told the woman to get off the bus.
A short time later, the woman pushed the aide's arm away, then pushed her back into a seat.
The aide said she went to the hospital after the incident and didn't work the rest of the week because of health reasons, she said.
Tags: NEW School Bus Fight 2-20-2008 Attack of the parent Caught On Tape: Between Student Driver assistant
