School bus driver in Columbus assaulted girl, 9, district says

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A school district in Ohio is moving to fire a bus driver accused of choking a third-grade special-needs student she was driving home.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the city district says the driver assaulted the 9-year-old girl on Tuesday and that the encounter was recorded by a surveillance system. A district spokesman says it’s not clear what led to the behavior.

The driver has been suspended without pay pending a hearing on a district charge of malfeasance.

The girl’s foster mother reported the matter to police, who refer to it in a report as an endangering- children offense.

Superintendent Gene Harris last week had said she was displeased her staff didn’t quickly fire another driver accused of misconduct.

That driver resigned as the district moved to fire her.