YAKIMA, Wash. — The family of a girl attacked on a school bus has sued the Yakima School District, claiming the bus driver failed to intervene and protect the child.
In a surveillance video dated Nov. 9, 2011, the attacker is seen moving toward the bus doors even while the bus is still moving.
Then after the bus stopped, children started to exit. But as the victim moved toward the door, she was pushed back onto the bus by the attacker.
“You hear this loud, excuse my language, but this girl says 'b--ches don't get off,’” said Vito de la Cruz, the girl’s attorney.
The girl, who is going by the initials C.L.G. in this lawsuit, then handed her cellphone to the bus driver for safekeeping as she began to defend herself. De la Cruz said the attacker was at one point the victim’s friend.
Amy Neal, a spokesperson for the district, said: “The Yakima School District does not comment on pending litigation. Any comments will be made at the appropriate time and venue.”
The following is the job description for a substitute bus driver position listed on the Yakima Schools website. It mentions supervising students and maintaining discipline while they’re on the bus:
Minimum Qualifications:
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have at least five (5) years prior driving experience.
• Possess a valid Washington State Driver’s license.
• Qualify for a Commercial Driver’s license.
• Will be required to provide a satisfactory Driver's Abstract showing professional and personal driving record. Applicants who have been convicted of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, negligent driving or hit and run driving will not be considered for employment.
• Pass DOT physical examination.
• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Capable of handling bus under normal or abnormal conditions.
• Commercial driving experience preferred.
• Record of dependability, flexibility, and strong attendance.
• Establish and maintain a professional and positive working relationship with students, parents, staff and the general public.
• Desire to be a role model for students.
• Maintain confidentiality.
Primary Function: Operation of a school bus transporting students following designated routes.
Other Functions and Responsibilities:
• Inspect bus daily prior to operation.
• Submit daily bus report.
• Report any mechanical defects immediately.
• Clean and refuel bus as needed.
• Drive safely and carefully at all times.
• Complete weekly bus condition reports and other required reports.
• Supervise students while they are passengers on the bus; maintain discipline.
• Work cooperatively with other bus drives and administrators.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Follow route information and complete routes in a timely manner.
KIRO also asked about the job description of bus drivers and whether drivers are supposed to handle discipline situations like this. For comparison, KIRO 7 also asked Seattle Public Schools for its bus driver policies.
A spokesperson for Seattle Public Schools said in the situation of a student altercation: “Drivers pull over, de-escalate verbally, call for assistance and use physical intervention only to ‘separate’ combatants as a last resort and to maximize student safety.”
KIRO
