A Newark mother might face a minor misdemeanor charge for shoving a school bus aide into a seat, an incident captured on video tape.
The video from Wednesday afternoon’s Newark school bus incident, shows the mother get on the bus to talk with the driver, then raise her voice as the aide joins the conversation.
Newark Law Director Doug Sassen said his office is reviewing the incident.
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 her 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 that, 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 alterction 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.
The parent’s issue with the bus driver stemmed from the driver not picking her son up in the morning. She said she’s 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 before.
He said the driver needs to keep on a specific schedule and can’t stop at every house waiting 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 can even 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 bus 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 be back to work Monday, with her doctor’s approval.
The district is taking no disciplinary action against either the driver or the aide and said the incident is in the court’s hands.
The video from Wednesday afternoon’s Newark school bus incident, shows the mother get on the bus to talk with the driver, then raise her voice as the aide joins the conversation.
Newark Law Director Doug Sassen said his office is reviewing the incident.
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 her 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 that, 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 alterction 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.
The parent’s issue with the bus driver stemmed from the driver not picking her son up in the morning. She said she’s 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 before.
He said the driver needs to keep on a specific schedule and can’t stop at every house waiting 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 can even 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 bus 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 be back to work Monday, with her doctor’s approval.
The district is taking no disciplinary action against either the driver or the aide and said the incident is in the court’s hands.
