YOUNGSTOWN No one punished for assault on boy, mother says

Karen Mabone said older kids attacked her son, 6, on a bus.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN --Karen Mabone says she no longer feels her first-grade son is safe at Williamson Elementary School and she wants him to be transferred to another city school.
Mabone said her 6-year-old son was assaulted by a group of fourth-grade pupils on a district school bus Dec. 6 and that those involved in the attack haven't been disciplined.
She also said the bus driver failed to render assistance to her son during and after the assault. The child had visible facial injuries after the attack, she said.
Mabone said her son had moved out of his assigned bus seat in an effort to get away from the older children, who he said had been harassing him.
School officials said disciplinary action was taken in that the children involved, including Mabone's son, lost their bus riding privileges for a number of days.
Mabone filed a police report Dec. 8, and school officials said the city police juvenile bureau arranged a meeting with the parties involved, including parents and guardians, Friday.
Mother sees tape
Mabone said she attended that session and viewed a videotape of the assault for the first time. It looked like half of the children on the bus took part in the assault on her child, she said.
She said she was told that prosecution was unlikely because of the age of the children.
Mabone said she still wants to see the children punished and wants a transfer for her son.
"No one's being held accountable for this," she said.
Ted Terlesky, school security chief, said police intend to send the videotape to the prosecutor's office for review to determine if a crime was committed and if anyone should be prosecuted.
M. Mike McNair, school district spokesman, said Mabone's request for a school transfer is under review and that Superintendent Dr. Wendy Webb is trying to arrange a meeting with Mabone.
The district wants to make every effort to ensure that Mabone is satisfied with the handling of the matter and that her son's needs will be met, McNair said.
Mabone said she had been keeping her son out of school out of a concern for his safety. He returned to school Friday; family members drove him to school and picked him up after classes, she said.
gwin@vindy.com