Wednesday, January 27, 2010
VIENNA — A group of more than 40 people, members of the Arab American Community Center of Youngstown, protested before the Mathews Board of Education Wednesday night, alleging discrimination and safety issues for the district’s two Arab-American students.
Several carried signs, including one that read “Arabs are not terrorists.”
The group’s protest followed publicity over alleged discriminatory remarks made against the two students, both of Lebanese descent, by a school bus driver who was suspended for three days last November after the incident and later reassigned to the bus garage.
The size of the turnout caused the board to move its work session from its small offices to the Mathews High School cafeteria across the street.
“You are primarily responsible for the safety and security of children in your care,” Ray Nakley, council spokesman. told the board. “You must fulfill your obligation to see these children come to the Mathews schools safely.”
Nakley indicated that the bus driver’s suspension wasn’t enough for the group.
The driver, Kathy Kotanichek of Burghill, pleaded innocent Dec. 15 in Girard Municipal Court to endangering children and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. If convicted of the two charges, she could be sentenced to six months in jail and fines of more than $1,000.
The charges resulted from a comment caught on tape that she made to 14-year-old Hanna Sassya as the boy was leaving the school bus Nov. 10, Vienna Police Chief Brian Darbey said.
For the full story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com